Saturday, December 12, 2015

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

It was such a beautiful day today we packed a picnic and headed for the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge to see some birds. We were not disappointed!

This refuge is part of the 30,000 acres of land set aside along the Savannah River, which in turn is a part of the Atlantic Flyway, traveled by 50 species of birds every spring and fall.

Birds pass through every day from Up North on the way to their winter homes. We had a loon on the water in front of the house this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the land in this section of the refuge used to be rice fields, part of the agricultural economy of the South tended by slaves.

 

Glossy Ibis feeding

 

 

 

 

 

Left, Snowy Egret.

Right, Great Blue Heron

There were great flocks of egrets and herons feeding everywhere, too far away for photos but we enjoyed them through my birding scope using the car as a blind.

 

 

 

 

Gates like this allowed rice growers to let water in and out of the fields as it was needed.

Now the same gate system is used to control water to benefit the wildlife that lives here and migrates through.

 

Blinds are available on trails for photographers and birdwatchers to observe the birds. The opening in the photo is just one of several at different heights that can be opened and closed.

I was disappointed that there was nothing to sneak up on for a spectacular view at the time we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

Birds weren't the only winged species flying around.

Zebra Long-Wing

I don't have a picture but the mosquitoes were taking advantage of the nice day, too!

 

 

 

Autumn colors have finally come to the LowCountry! The reds and yellows of the hardwoods are just gorgeous. And just in time for Christmas!

I don't know what these trees In the understory are, but the leaves are huge, eight or nine or more inches across.

 

 

 

 

The water cistern for one of the communities that worked the rice fields for the wealthy plantation owners, who lived in fine houses in Savannah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And just when we had almost completed the trail and despaired of seeing any of these today ...

 

 

... gators in the sun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are wondering why they are reddish brown instead of the usual gator gray-green, it's because these two young ones have been recently building their winter burrows in the red brown mud. They just came out to soak up some sun and warmth before getting back to work.

 

 

 

 

18 comments:

  1. The weather looks beautiful! Here we are having a wind and rain storm. We've had several this week and they are supposed to finally end tomorrow. We had several earlier in the season. We don't usually get so many and not so early. Just stopping by to wish you and yours, a very Merry Christmas♥

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ah, the gators of Christmas, now the season is complete.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Fascinating area, Cynthia and "T.O.H".
    The first photo of that "drive" is very "G.W.T.W.'ish".
    Now all I need for Christmas in a "Gator" under my tree - ha ha.
    Lovely and cool here with light rain - a pleasure after the heat and
    sauna of the middle of the week temperature.
    Cheers
    Colin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GWTW? Explain, please? And I sincerely hope Santa does not leave a gator beneath your tree! Or even a little one in your Christmas stocking. 😀

      Delete
    2. Ooh! can I guess? I have no idea what HG meant, but I wanted to guess Gone With The Wind before he answered. I'll have to come back to see what he says.

      Delete
    3. Correct - Gone With the Wind.
      I think Cynthia's "Please Explain" will bring a few wry smiles to faces of Aussies.
      This "expression" has now become somewhat of a folklore here for amusement.
      I have sent the "please explain" business to Cynthia.
      I think a small "gator" under the Christmas Tree would liven the day up somewhat - ha ha.
      Colin

      Delete
  4. Beautiful photos of such an interesting area! I love birds, and it's a thrill to see the winter visitors on their way to warmer climes and then on their way back north.

    ReplyDelete
  5. This is an interesting area historically and now as a productive wetland.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fun place to visit! Looks like a great day trip and the sun was shining! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I am back, that tree and the leaves had me bugged. I think it might be what is called a Chinese Parasoltree or "Bottletree" or Firmiana simplex. Look it up and see what you think, the leaves are lobed and huge 6 to 12 inches long and wide:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Connie. It IS a Chinese parasol tree, brought here from China in the 1700s because it was fast growing and provided shad quickly. Now it's considered an invasive species. There was a lot of it in the area of the cistern, where the old slave quarters were, so that makes sense.

      Delete
  8. Wow those gators are real! Mosquitoes can be such spoilers of a nice day but then we can just think of them as treats to those beautiful butterfies.

    That's a nice historical place.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow those gators are real! Mosquitoes can be such spoilers of a nice day but then we can just think of them as treats to those beautiful butterfies.

    That's a nice historical place.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Amazing to see gators free in nature. That is something we don't have here only in a Zoo.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The Aligators look a decent size..
    Nice wetlands there, interesting the history..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cynthia nice area to visit a lot of interesting birds but dangerous crocodiles. I am aftraid of them terrible monnsters

    ReplyDelete
  13. I was thinking how lovely, strolling around looking at all the bird life - but I'm afraid with the alligators I would spend more time looking over my shoulder...just not used to such things.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Connie is brilliant with her botany knowledge, isn't she? I like the idea of a bird-watching blind. I've never seen one, but it's a great idea.

    ReplyDelete