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marsha8of9.bsky.social
🤦‍♀️ #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #EastCoastKin
marsha8of9.bsky.social Marsha8of9 @marsha8of9.bsky.social · Aug 14
Happy Thursday friends… a blast from the past—an Osprey (Fish Hawk), with fish in talons from June of 2020 in Myrtle Beach, SC. Still, one of the best photos I’ve ever taken with my kit camera and lens.
Center frame, an Osprey flying, wings stretched out in V shape, while a dead and bleeding fish hangs from their talon. For more info about Osprey’s check out Merlin’s description. MerlinBirdID: Large, mostly white raptor that cruises over lakes, rivers, and coastal waterways in search of fish. Impressively widespread: found on every continent except Antarctica. Mostly white head and underparts; dark brown back. In flight, holds wings with a kink in the wrist (shaped like an "M").
August 14, 2025 at 1:21 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
@oldpostie.bsky.social now if we're going to talk about hair... this dude has the best... "Married for the season" hairdo of them all. #Anihingas #Birdoftheday #marriedcouple #BirdingSC #birds #wildlife #nature #Photography
March 19, 2026 at 6:44 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Vacation photo: Little Blue Heron #HuntingtonBeachStatePark #Nature #photography #Birds #BirdingSC
April 20, 2024 at 3:33 AM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy #FeatheredFriday friends. Caught these beautiful Red-tailed Hawks on an early evening walk as the waning rays of sunlight cast its golden light upon them. #birds #BirdingSC #nature #photography #redtailedhawks
October 25, 2024 at 1:18 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
On vacation in South Carolina, came across an American Avocet working over some mudflats with a White Ibis. Avocets usually found in large flocks are common across the western US. Hence their "infrequent" tag for this area. #Birds #BirdingSC #Nature #Photography #AmericanAvocet
October 19, 2024 at 2:07 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Some photos remind me of vacation, when there were very few things to think about. Seeing these Black-crowned Night heron chicks chilling out at dusk was like icing on the cake. Sure takes the edge off difficult days like today. #Birds #BirdingSC #Nature #Photography #Black-crownedNightHeron
July 28, 2024 at 12:43 AM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy New week friends... large swaths of ducks and other waterfowl have begun showing up...migration is a foot... so exciting!! #GreenwingedTeals #birding #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin #Birdoftheday📷🪶🦉
Standing in water, its reflection rippling beneath is a Green-winged Teal. A small duck with a cinnamon head, with large crescent green stripe running from the beak, above the eye to the back of the head, standing and facing right.
February 23, 2026 at 2:30 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Found this cutey trying to blend in with the tree bark while waiting for mom to bring a yummy insect. Brown-headed nuthatches are only found in the Southeastern states as such, I look forward to seeing them every time I vacation in South Carolina. #Birds #BirdingSC #nature #wildlife #photography
April 23, 2024 at 1:20 AM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Thursday friends...a blast from the past, found a mated pair of Black-crowned Night Herons hemming and hawing about making the nest. Apparently, the male needed some oversight. #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin #naturephotography #birdoftheday #marriedcouples
Center frame, in foreground, the female is resting on a bush branch, while inspecting the hastily created nest below, made by the male. She is facing viewers left and looking downward. The male in the background is facing viewers left and is waiting for the "go" signal to commence copulation. Note their bright red legs denoting mating season.
March 19, 2026 at 1:43 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Tuesday friends and today's #Two4Tuesday comes into play with the #BirdOfTheDay theme, #BirdBuddies Taken a few years back, a Wood Stork and a Roseate Spoonbill workover the same area of the marsh, Murrels Inlet, SC. #birds #BirdingSC #wildlife #naturephotography #ECK🪶🦉📷
Center frame, to the viewer's left stands a Wood Stork looking down into the brackish water of the marsh. To the right, is a much smaller and perhaps prettier, Roseate Spoonbill, actively scanning the waters for small shrimp-among other yummies.
September 8, 2026 at 1:37 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
TGIF and Happy #FeatheredFriday friends. Today's #BirdoftheDay feature, #EgretsandHerons takes me back to '24 when I captured a pair of immature, Black-crowned Night Herons, chilling out together in SC. I've always appreciated they didn't mind me snapping their photos. #birds #birdingSC #ECK 🦉📷🪶
Center frame an immature, Black-crowned Night Heron, back to the viewer, is standing on a life oak branch, looking towards viewer's right. To the far left of frame on a secondary branch above and off to the side of the youngster another, perhaps a nestmate/sibling is perched, facing the viewer, but looking off to viewers left.
July 31, 2026 at 12:22 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy #WoodpeckerWednesday friends. From Yesterday at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrell's Inlet, SC, this Red-bellied woodpecker said "Hellooo" to me several times. That or "Go away!" Some bird barks are hard to discern 😜 #birds #birdingSC #nature #wildlife #photography🪶🦉📷
Center frame perched on tree, facing mostly forward, but looking left a Red-bellied Woodpecker sits. They are a sleek, round-headed woodpecker, about the same size as a Hairy Woodpecker but without the blocky outlines. Often appears pale overall, even the boldly black-and-white striped back, with flashing red cap and nape. Look for white patches near the wingtips as this bird flies. *Bird identification from Allaboutbirds.org.
October 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Tuesday friends... working through my hard drive and found this Wood Stork from my visits to Myrtle Beach over the years. A bird who's beauty is unique only unto themselves. #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin
Center frame on a spat of sand, surrounded by water and oyster shells, stand a Wood Stork. A tall, lanky bird, with beautiful white wings with black tips, a bald head and face with a dagger like bill. From Audubon.com., A Huge and long-legged, with mostly white body, naked gray head, heavy bill. Juvenile has yellow bill and dusky head. In flight, black and white wing pattern.
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy new week friends... taking a few mental health days this week and visiting some old haunts. Especially enjoyed finding this Roseate Spoonbill hanging out with Wood storks-proving you can get along with everyone if you try. #birds #birdingSC #wldlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin🪶🦉📷
There are three birds in this shot. Two on either end are Wood Storks, identified by their hefty size, white feathered body, bare head and long bill. The third bird is a Roseate Spoonbill, upper left of frame, found in between the two storks; identified by their brilliant pink wings and back, white front and their classic spoon shaped, long bill. From allaboutbirds.org., Wood Storks are hefty wading birds with football-shaped bodies perched atop long legs. They have a long neck and a long, thick bill that is curved at the tip. They fly with their neck and legs outstretched but tend to perch with the neck drawn in, giving them a humpbacked appearance. Wood Storks are entirely white save for their black flight feathers and tail. The head is un-feathered and scaly-looking. Roseate Spoonbills are medium-sized waterbirds with a football-shaped body and long legs. The long bill that is flattened into a spoon at the end protrudes from their small head. They fly with their long necks outstretched and often rest with it curled into an S. Roseate Spoonbills are pale pink birds with brighter pink shoulders and rump. They have a white neck and a partially feathered, yellowish green head from which their red eyes shine. Juveniles are paler pink and have a completely feathered head for 3 years until they attain adult breeding plumage.
October 20, 2025 at 1:30 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy #FeatheredFriday friends... On our last day at the beach, I came across this beautiful immature male, Northern Parula warbler. Their subtle chestnut band of feathers, denote their sex and age. #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin
Center right of frame, facing forward, but looking left, inside a Live Oak tree sits a busy immature male Northern Parula warbler. From allaboutbirds.org., Adult male Northern Parulas are bluish gray overall with a yellow-green patch on the back and 2 white wingbars. A chestnut band separates the male's bright yellow throat and chest. Adult females are a bit paler and typically lack the male's breast band. Males and females have distinctive white eye crescents. Immature birds are paler than adults and lack the chestnut breast band.
October 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy #Stunday friends... I'm combining today's #BirdOfTheDay themes forming #CHE #Memories w/this photo from '21, captured in Myrtle Beach, SC as Tri-colored Heron chicks on the nest vied for parent's attention. I've always loved this shot! #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #Naturephotography #ECK 📷🪶🦉
In the center of the photo is a large green reed, which separates the view of the Tri-colored Heron chicks. The "younger one" is located on viewers left, with their neck tucked and their wings slightly open. On the viewers right, their neck fully extended and their wings open wider is the older sibling. Both were vying for a parent's attention to bring them food.
July 26, 2026 at 1:39 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Gotta love being on vacation, where the most gorgeous #birds fly past on their way to parts unknown. In this case, these Roseate Spoonbills just finished their mid-afternoon siesta and were headed back out to the saltmarsh in search of an early dinner. #BirdingSC #Nature #Phtotography #HBSP
In flight. Unique pink wading bird with a bill resembling long flat spoons Three Roseate Spoonbills (pink wading birds with bills resembling spoons) flying back over the saltmarsh.
October 24, 2024 at 3:10 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Saturday friends... another travel day in the early morning, so posting early. Caught this lovely immature Bald Eagle in South Carolina, scavenging and looking menacing to the waterfowl on Wednesday morning. #birds #birdingSC #wildlife #nature #photography #eastcoastkin 🪶🦉📷
Center left of frame, a juvenile Bald Eagle with broad wings glides over the top of photographer. Juveniles generally have dark brown bodies with white blotchy wings and tail. From Allaboutbird.org., The Bald Eagle dwarfs most other raptors, including the Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk. It has a heavy body, large head, and long, hooked bill. In flight, a Bald Eagle holds its broad wings flat like a board. Immature birds have mostly dark heads and tails; their brown wings and bodies are mottled with white in varying amounts. Young birds attain adult plumage in about five years.
October 25, 2025 at 5:45 AM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
The other day I showed you one of the cutest ugly chicks, the American Coot. Not to be outdone by their distant cousins, the Common Gallinule can give them a run for the money... Love his little wings lifting off their back #BirdingSC #Birds #Nature #Photography
Female Common Gallinule seemingly amused by one their chicks. Mother Gallinule sharing a moment with their chick The Common Gallinule chick with their little wings raised, appears to want mom to do more, while mom has moved on... One of the four chicks I found swimming near "Mom", isolated for a better view.
July 9, 2024 at 7:55 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy #FeatheredFriday friends. One of my favorite #birds to photograph while in SC is the Painted Bunting. One cannot come up with enough superlatives to describe how beautiful this fellow is. #BirdingSC #Nature #Photography #HuntingtonBeachStatePark
Painted buntings are members of the Cardinalidae family. They are native to North America and are considered to be one of America's most colorful bird. The males beautiful color pattern arrives after their first-year molt. Prior to then, they are indistinguishable from their mother. These beautiful birds can be found in the Southeastern US, but on occasion, they can be found in the north, following a large storm that originated in the south.
July 12, 2024 at 2:31 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Took a nice long walk on the beach at Huntington Beach State Park yesterday, which was largely absent of birds. Then I spotted a little shorebird, snapped a few photos and hoped for the best. Turned out to be a lifer, Wilson's Plover. #Birds #BirdingSC #Nature #Photography #WilsonsPlover
Wilson's Plover is a medium sized shorebird with a flat, rather than round head and long thick bill (for a plover). Wilson's Plovers rarely wander far from ocean coastlines. They like to hunt in the salt flats, usually hidden among beach debris. When compared to other plovers, the Wilson's have been confused at times, to a smaller "salt-water" Kildeer.
July 11, 2024 at 2:26 AM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Thursday friends... My #BirdOfTheDay shots feature #Divers theme and these are my favorite dive shots-a Brown Pelican I caught at Huntington Beach State Park, SC back in '23, just off the dog-free beach. #Birds #BirdingSC #Wildlife #Naturephotography #ECK 🪶📷🦉
September 24, 2026 at 12:21 PM
marsha8of9.bsky.social
Happy Tuesday friends... I have found a few Carlina Chickadees in and around the Columbus area in the past, but there's nothing quite like finding them in the Carolinas. They certainly put our Black-capped variety to shame in the "speed" department. #birds #birdingSC #Eastcoastkin #Nature 🪶🦉📷
Center frame perched facing left sitting in a Live Oak. You can see their buffy chest, their black cap, white cheek and black neck, a little gray can be seen at the nape of the neck, leading back to their wings. On e of their legs appears to be holding onto a leaf. From allaboutbirds.org., This tiny, approachable bird has a short neck and large head, giving it a distinctive spherical body shape. Its tail is fairly long and narrow. Its bill is a bit thicker than a warbler’s but thinner than a finch’s. Carolina Chickadees have a black cap and bib separated by stark white cheeks. The back, wings, and tail are soft gray.
October 21, 2025 at 1:40 PM