When venturing into nature, one never knows what is in store. The possibility of encountering wildlife or some natural event promoting awe is a motivator. Awe engenders a range of feeling, and allows one to be fully present. Wild awe, jaw-dropping awe, whoa-exclaiming awe, transcendent awe. A particular place may bring the expectation for awe, […]
It was coming – another winter storm traveling east across the country bringing frigid temperatures, snow, ice, and sleet to the Carolinas. The meteorological media now names these storms, this one Cora. The Upstate and Midlands received snow, the inland Lowcountry a brief mix, and the coast merely a cold rain. But our neighborhood received
Winter storm; white squadron Read More »
My recent forays into Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge have been high tide ventures to observe the American Oystercatcher roosts on shell rakes along the Intracoastal Waterway. On this Monday, I chose an opposite course, exploring the low tide waterways to view foraging oystercatchers. I planned to enter a very shallow area a little to
Becoming a follower Read More »
As the sun set, and we waited for the evening’s celestial wonders to take place – a full moon rise and a comet’s appearance – a whistling came from the other side of the Intracoastal Waterway. The low-lying mud and shell bank was covered with American Oystercatchers, perhaps a hundred and fifty. After the moonrise,
Following oystercatchers Read More »
I was deep into a cabinet building project, and had completed an important stage of the process on the previous and long workday. After an early morning eye care visit in town, I headed home to take care of other neglected tasks. At some point close to home I noticed the fabulous weather and contemplated
Paddling to Bulls Bay Read More »
Three ibises precariously landed on the rope railing of the dock as I arrived at the landing. They were facing into the wind already blowing, quite unlike my last sail in early May where I half sailed, half drifted to the Northeast Point of Bull Island. I was on a mission that May day; on
I motored over to Bull Island with friends Ben Saunders and Rod Bungey – Ben for wildlife photography, Rod for all that the island has to offer, and me to view the second and larger of the two December breaches of the Jacks Creek impoundment. With the island’s new configuration, we walked the Sheepshead Ridge
I was listening to bird sounds at the landing before launching Kingfisher. I had named the Sunfish this bird for some similar characteristics – active, small, not speedy, and a distinctive look while in flight. I recalled last October finding a quiet place, a secret spot, along the Middle Prong in Walker Valley in the
My neighborhood walk always has a common destination – the landing on the Intracoastal Waterway. It is my window to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge – the world of creeks and salt marsh, and Bull Island in the distance. Wildlife inhabits this world, on and below the waters, on shell rakes and mudflats, and in
A place of many natural attractions, Bull Island now had a new visiting star, a flamingo, courtesy of Tropical Storm Idalia. The storm had transported many of these birds from the Yucatan throughout the southeast and even to Ohio and Wisconsin. These pink creatures became magnets for a range of people from ornithologists to more
The forest canopy resounded with the explosive whoosh of a large bird taking flight – actually two. One lit on a branch above my path, and another to the right. These barred owls, disturbed in the early morning, did not sound their usual call, but instead a hissing (Cornell Lab of Ornithology identifies these calls
Search for Wildlife Read More »
In the process of submitting the manuscript for my second book, Tracing the Cape Romain Archipelago, I had the unpleasant task of having to reduce the book’s length. Several of my trips did not make the final revision. The following is a sail to Cape Island on September 22, 2006. Unfortunately photos from that day
A once and future inlet Read More »
