Although Hilton Head Island has wonderful wildlife photo ops, my favorite venue is Pinckney Island, the main part of the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR).* I visited the island twice during this trip. I like to arrive at sunrise when the island opens to get golden hour shots. This first visit had good points and bad. The day was overcast, so I did not get any direct early sun shots lighting the area or birds. However, the overcast allowed me to capture the bright mating colors.
These posts show the many different species on the island. I will post action sequences and BIFs later.
My favorite shooting spot is Ibis Pond, a rookery about .7 of a mile in. No vehicles are allowed, so my gear and I can make it to Ibis Pond, but you will have to rely on younger shooters for scenes of the many other ponds on the island.
Comments and suggestions are welcomed.
* Pinckney Island has a history as a plantation, Civil War Union troop camp and shooting preserve. In 1975 the islands in the present refuge were donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a preserve.
photophile wrote:
Gorgeous egret!
Thanks, Karin, they are very colorful now.
Very nice Egret. Excellent set.
UTMike wrote:
Although Hilton Head Island has wonderful wildlife photo ops, my favorite venue is Pinckney Island, the main part of the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR).* I visited the island twice during this trip. I like to arrive at sunrise when the island opens to get golden hour shots. This first visit had good points and bad. The day was overcast, so I did not get any direct early sun shots lighting the area or birds. However, the overcast allowed me to capture the bright mating colors.
These posts show the many different species on the island. I will post action sequences and BIFs later.
My favorite shooting spot is Ibis Pond, a rookery about .7 of a mile in. No vehicles are allowed, so my gear and I can make it to Ibis Pond, but you will have to rely on younger shooters for scenes of the many other ponds on the island.
Comments and suggestions are welcomed.
* Pinckney Island has a history as a plantation, Civil War Union troop camp and shooting preserve. In 1975 the islands in the present refuge were donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a preserve.
Although Hilton Head Island has wonderful wildlife... (
show quote)
Oh my goodness Mike, you struck it rich. I love the Egrets in full mating color and they are all just fantastic photos! Nice work!!!
kmpankopf wrote:
Very nice Egret. Excellent set.
Thanks, Kurt, the egrets are the major bird in the rookery.
Horseart wrote:
Oh my goodness Mike, you struck it rich. I love the Egrets in full mating color and they are all just fantastic photos! Nice work!!!
I appreciate your encouragement, Jo.
Bigmike1
Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.
You know, I was born and raised in South Carolina but have never been to Hilton Head. Great shots.
joecichjr
Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA
UTMike wrote:
Although Hilton Head Island has wonderful wildlife photo ops, my favorite venue is Pinckney Island, the main part of the Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR).* I visited the island twice during this trip. I like to arrive at sunrise when the island opens to get golden hour shots. This first visit had good points and bad. The day was overcast, so I did not get any direct early sun shots lighting the area or birds. However, the overcast allowed me to capture the bright mating colors.
These posts show the many different species on the island. I will post action sequences and BIFs later.
My favorite shooting spot is Ibis Pond, a rookery about .7 of a mile in. No vehicles are allowed, so my gear and I can make it to Ibis Pond, but you will have to rely on younger shooters for scenes of the many other ponds on the island.
Comments and suggestions are welcomed.
* Pinckney Island has a history as a plantation, Civil War Union troop camp and shooting preserve. In 1975 the islands in the present refuge were donated to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for use as a preserve.
Although Hilton Head Island has wonderful wildlife... (
show quote)
Utter photographic perfection πππΏππ
Excellent, Mike. I am so pleased that you have "gotten into" bird imagery.
Bigmike1 wrote:
You know, I was born and raised in South Carolina but have never been to Hilton Head. Great shots.
Thanks, Mike, we discovered it in 1983 when we were living on the east coast. I appreciate your encouraging comment.
joecichjr wrote:
Utter photographic perfection πππΏππ
Your encouraging comment is really appreciated, Joe!
kpmac wrote:
Excellent, Mike. I am so pleased that you have "gotten into" bird imagery.
You know that you are one of the culprits in my journey to the dark side, Ken. Thanks for your kind comment.
You did a wonderful job, Mike.
NMGal wrote:
You did a wonderful job, Mike.
You are very generous, Barbara.
If you want to reply, then
register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.