Savannah 2023 part four

Done with the tourist stuff, the historic district, and the many attractions of the vibrant, unique, and totally enjoyable city, it was time to head south, to spend some time with my college roomie, his lovely wife, and of course their spirited doggo.

Off to Skidaway Island. To The Landings Golf and Athletic Club. Six championship golf courses. 8,000 residents, 4,500 homes. Eight restaurants. The list goes on.

So Gary and Judy hosted us, and what an experience. Out of great respect for them, I didn't shoot their home, their lot, or them. But, Gary did take me on a little cart ride. Turns out he's been scoping out the wildlife for some time as he golfs, and he knows where to go for what - which lagoon is freshwater, which isn't, and so it was not unlike a naturalist's pro tour. 

Turns out golfers do care about their environment. Well, one. Small sample size. But my other golfing friend has this trait as well. So, two. A trend!

So while Gary was scoping out the treetops, I took notice of this little feller, snoozing in the sun:

 

Gary has a cousin in FL who hunts these guys, Mississippi gators, and cuz says this is probably a ten footer.  The Landings has a policy to remove gators at the six foot size, but I guess this guy just sort of resisted. Hey Gary, look down over there, I said, twenty feet away...

Next up, the Anhinga:


I used Merlin, the Audubon Society ID tool, to figure out what he (she?) was.


This is more the size of gator they allow to live on the courses. He was across the lagoon from the big big boy, and just resting in the water.


We did some more touring, always looking up for birds of prey, but never really seeing one. Gary knew where a couple hung out, but they had flown the coop, so to speak.

So our next sighting was this Great Blue Heron, a fish aficionado. I really liked the way the full sun was hitting her (or him).


Next capture, the Wood Stork. This version I call "hiding", because that's exactly what this shy bird was doing:



We had to wait around, and move around, and I finally got this frame:

Same grass plant. Again, ID by Merlin.


Back to the shore of another lagoon, we chanced upon these three painted turtles, traversing the shoreline opposite us:

It took some time to get all their heads in the same direction. They're not fast, but they're not circus-trained. It takes a while to get nature to bend to your thoughts on what might make a good capture.


This last bird shot is a Yellow-crowned Night Heron, which Merlin says is rare:


Again, I got lucky with the lighting, but I really love this shot.


Last, and surely least, is a capture by Gary:

 

Gary's caption is "Nice tire track!"

Mine is, "Yep, Titlist Four!"

Which is why we both had day jobs...


Savannah 2023 part one

Savannah 2023 part two

Savannah 2023 part three

 Savannah 2023 part five 

 Savannah 2023 part six


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