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 »
After the launch, the lack of wind was perfect for a kayak trip to Bull Island. These conditions were optimal too for spotting a loggerhead, or perhaps to hear its gasping exhalation. April is the month when I have observed these marine reptiles before the females begin their nesting in May. Paddling steady with the significant
Lookout for loggerheads Read More »
A morning with full sun, no-seeums, and without wind at the landing. A kingfisher flew by; the outgoing tide had two hours before dead low. I had a need to launch at that moment before the landing became dominated by pluff mud. I cast off without raising sail, and unconsciously began paddling while standing. Kingfisher
I stepped onto a frosty deck at the landing, the air 34 degrees, before my neighbor Brian Doran arrived and launched his boat at 7AM. Stepping on to the likewise icy deck required care. We soon were motoring out for a smooth passage to Bull Island. We started our hike around 7:40, ahead of the
Frost, fur and feathers Read More »
As I prepared to launch Kingfisher and looked at the water on the ramp, I ran into my neighbor Yogi, and commented “Plenty of water there”. He exclaimed “But there is no wind. Look at the flag!” I did not look at the massive flagpole behind the landing. Instead my eye noticed the signs on
Movements of a flag Read More »
