We decided to try a few nights at a Wildlife Management Area in S.C. It had been a while since we had done such a thing and the road in was in pretty decent repair.
As we started down the lane a beautiful fox squirrel appeared. We traveled on down the lane and found ourselves at a locked gate. Didn't think this was the intended destination but there was enough room to boondock so we set up shop.
With the gate locked and no other visitors to be seen it was just us and the happy critters.
Lyreleaf Sage Flowers were everywhere. Don't know why our camera thought they were blue. They were really more purplish.
This interesting little plant is actually a grass. A grass that
couldn't stand still long enough to give us an un-blurred photo.
Sometimes you've just got to take matters into your own hands! Once we found out the name... Quaking Grass... we understood it's inability to pose for us.
There were plenty of ponds and other watery areas to peer at on our walks.
This little Carolina Wren was our alarm early one morning.
Of course there were plenty of water-oriented birds.
An Osprey fly-over.
It has been a few years since we last saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.
Although we only got one quick glimpse, seeing this
White-eyed Vireo (a lifer for us) was quiet a treat.
A closer view so you can see the spectacular white eye that gives it the name.
Also in the winged department, we saw a few nice butterflies.
Black Swallowtail
An underside view, too.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
Monarch Imitator... The Viceroy Butterfly
Atamasco Lilies were blooming in the swamp.
After two days of peaceful mornings, quiet afternoons and dark nights we headed back toward the bright lights and the big city. We'll be citified for a good while now so it was nice to get out and enjoy the Sandy Beach WMA.
