Bob Weitzel from Rose Hill sent us the following great story and pictures:

"A HAWK landed in the front yard of Heide and Bob Weitzel on Thursday Feb 7 about 4:30 pm in Rose Hill.   It didn't seem bothered by Bob's presence, so he approached it with caution, wearing heavy gloves and a jacket.  Bob said that he always wanted to hold a hawk, so he cozied up to it and put his hand by its feet - it climbed onto his arm!  Bob held the hawk for about 30 minutes.  Not once did the bird try to bite him while he gently stroked its head and chest. 

The Weitzels, not being  sure what to do with the hawk, called Security, and Security in turn called Coastal Vet.   Ashley from Coastal Vet arrived at the house, and after examining the hawk said it was a young male, and that it was a bit disoriented.  Ashley took the hawk back to the Coastal Vet office.

Bob and his daughter went to check on the hawk the next day, and the vet reported that the hawk was doing fine and eating well.    The vet is planning to bring it back to Rose Hill on Monday, and will release it to go free.

The Weitzels feel that they enjoyed a very surreal experience, to say the least!"

Charles Carpenter sent us this great picture asking for identification.  Here's the response from Diane Rand:

"This is an immature herring gull.  The large size is the first clue.  Herring gulls are much larger than any other gull that we have here.  The second clue is the black mark on the bill.  When this bird becomes an adult the black will turn red.   Compare this black mark to the "ring" on the ring-billed gull and you will see a definite difference.  Also the ring-billed gull is about 7-8 inches smaller.  Laughing gull, our other common gull has an all black bill in winter."

 

This little guy has been visiting our feeder for two days. He is so beautiful. We've yet to see his mate (maybe he's a bachelor).  He loves the seed block I have on the pole.  I just wanted to share him with others.
 Regards, Edith Stanley

Killdeer:
           

Flicker:
  
                           

Great pictures of an immature little blue heron taken by Charles Carpenter on the 4th hole at Okatie Creek, 11/18/07:

TRICOLOR HERONS

EGRETS
                 

MOMMA EGRET AND CHICKS
                

SMALL BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

OSPREY - Sue said, "I could not catch the babies peeking over...maybe next time!"
           

Eastern Kingbird in Savannah WR, sitting on a Rattlebox tree.

This picture of a Golden-crowned Kinglet was taken in February 2007 in the backyard of Padgett Drive toward Del Webb Blvd.

Helen Chatterton had this unusual visitor at her back-yard feeder (4/21):

Easter Kingbird

Rookery - Note the osprey leaving the water with his fish!