Well, I guess it’s about time to wrap up my posts from our trip to Murrells Inlet. I thought about sharing a few more water birds, like this Red-throated Loon…
…or this Pied-billed Grebe…
…or this Snowy Egret.
But instead, I decided to move from the water to the woods, and share three birds I saw in the branches.
Let’s start with a Northern Parula, which was a first time capture for me. He didn’t stick around but for a second, and I couldn’t get a great shot; but hey, sometimes you have to settle for evidence over excellence.
We were also treated to a sighting of Cedar Waxwings.
I was hoping to get a shot of one of these beautiful birds with a berry in its beak, but alas, the speed of the camera operator couldn’t compete with the speed of the berry bandit!
I think my favorite “wooded bird” encounter of the week was when a gorgeous Red-shouldered Hawk flew over our heads and perched on a nearby branch.
He seemed as curious about us as we were about him!
He poofed his feathers…
…then poofed them some more…
…and after a full-fledged ruffle…
…he prepared for take-off…
…and flew away to a new location.
It was such a joy to have a week long get away, and now, it’s such a joy to be back home enjoying my own backyard birds.
Backyard Bird Nerd 
I think the title of that last one could be ‘A leap of faith’ 🙂
Perfect!
Such a beautiful assortment!
Thanks!
Great bird pictures. Do you vacation at places known to have interesting bird populations or are the birds incidental to your vacation plans?
We do tend to try and plan trips around birds or other beauty. 🙂
I’m not a fan of predators who will snatch Yorkie. Unfortunately we have a red-tail living close by that I saw fly from the oak tree across the street to the oak tree in my yard snatch a morning dove in their nest while two were in there building it. I was horrified to actually see it do that. Bad enough seeing it harass the squirrels. Yorkie isn’t much bigger than a squirrel, she’s a toy Yorkie only 3.8-4 lbs.
I much prefer and enjoy seeing the berry bandits of any kind. 😊
They will indeed go after little pups! What’s your Yorkies name?
I call her Yorkie on social media. She has many nicknames! 😉