Day 20: January 20th- Hilton Head Island

Mostly sunny, calm,  high 60's

     A most pleasant day today as we spend our final day on Hilton Head Island exploring the last few "Important Bird Areas"  on the island.  We began by exploring the beach and found surprising few birds.  A few shallow depressions filled with water were being foraged by a half dozen or so Sanderlings, and Ring-billed gulls were seen out over the surf.  But that was about it for the ocean environs.  

The beach at Hilton Head, NC

      From the beach, we headed to a local park by the name of Jarvis Creek.  Beautiful little park with a good size deck overlooking a pond which was just filled with Double-creasted Cormorants, Ring-billed gulls, and a lone Wood stork (first of the year).  There were so many small fish near the surface that the cormorants were all dipping down and coming up with a fine morsel on virtually every attempt.  The gulls were swooping down with similar success and a pair of Greater scaup (also FOTY) were crossing the opposite bank.

Cormorant buffet

DC Cormorant

      At the end of the day, however, I finally capture what I have to consider as the "Pick of the Day".  The quality was not the best, but the subject and the context make it stand out in my mind.  Of all places I've photographed Eastern bluebirds, I never before captured the image of this bird while perched on a deck brush.  The bird, located on a boat at Harbour Town, was more than cooperative and wins the honors of the day.  Here he is......

Image of the day - Bluebird in Harbour Town