Phinizy Swamp on a December Day

I know, it's a birdwatching blog, but there were many wasps out today!  One scared my daughter off her bike!

Blue Heron--My daughter spotted him and we creeped closer and closer, but...

He eventually flew across the holding pond.

We decided to try to re-energize ourselves today and head to the local nature park that doubles as a water cleanup area for Augusta, Phinizy Swamp.  Water levels were a bit low today, sky overcast, but a comfortable 65 degrees with a slight breeze.  Little one on the bike, big boy and I with walking sticks and camera ready.  And, nature did not disappoint!

Correction!  Cormorants!

 We had no idea who these guys were.  From a distance I thought my eyes were deceiving me and that maybe they were black markers on the orange divider rope.  But, we walked closer and closer and I realized they were birds, then closer and thought that they were ducks.  When we got right across from them, it was funny to watch as they stretched their wings, preened, and appeared to be a line of friends just hanging out.  Then one flew off the rope and skipped and hopped across the water until he got airborne.  Thanks to the post on the Facebook Ornithologist page for letting me know they were cormorants!

Maybe a Black Rat Snake?

 I know, another non-bird photo, but we were a little astounded while trying to catch a photo of an Anhinga (which did not come out clear, sadly) to see this snake right under us.  Though my son tried everything from leaves, to sticks, to spit, to get the snake to move, he just stayed motionless--thankfully!

Giant Egrets fishing.  There were dozens in the swamp today!

We are used to seeing Egrets fly at our approach, but not in these numbers!