Best of 2025: Lowcountry Bird & Wildlife Gallery

Exploring the marshes, swamps, and beaches of the Charleston area

This collection is a look back at my favorite moments from 2025. I spent most of the year out in the marshes, swamps, and beaches around Charleston with my Nikon Z8 and 180-600mm telephoto lens, just trying to keep up with the wildlife that makes this area so special.

You'll see a bit of everything here—from the prehistoric look of the Wood Storks and the bright pink of the Spoonbills to the quiet grace of the Egrets. I also managed to catch some of the faster moments, like the way Kingfishers dart across the creeks.

To me, these 200+ photos are just my way of capturing the energy and the spirit you only find in the wild—even when that 'wild' is right in our own backyards. It’s beauty that’s waiting for you all around us, if you just take the time to look.

The Pink Icons: Roseate Spoonbills

It’s been incredible to watch the Spoonbill population grow here. They are staying longer and longer each year—arriving in the spring and often sticking around straight through January. While they’re sometimes confused for flamingos by visitors, they’ve become a true favorite for local birders and photographers alike.

After all, who can resist that pink plumage? They are just so uniquely built, especially that prehistoric-looking, spatula-shaped bill that they sweep through the water to feed. They’ve quickly become the stars of the Charleston marsh.

Three white and pink flamingos perched on branches, with dark background and greenery.

A pink and white pelican standing in shallow water with one wing slightly raised.

A pink and white heron with wings spread, perched on a tree branch against a blue sky with blurred green leaves in the background.

Two roseate spoonbills wading through water with their wings partially extended.

Two pink and white pelicans standing at the edge of a body of water with a tree stump nearby, during sunset or sunrise.

A pink flamingo standing on one leg on a weathered tree branch, with its head tucked beneath its wing against a clear blue sky.

A pink heron flying over a green pond with trees in the background.

A pink flamingo standing in shallow water with its wings spread wide.

A pink and white pelican wading in shallow water with a reflection visible on the surface, near muddy shoreline.

Two pink and white spoonbills wading in shallow water along a sandy shoreline.

A pink and white hope or stork standing in shallow water with its wings partially open.

A pink pelican standing in shallow water, with its wings partially raised, near the shoreline of a body of water.

Two pink ibises standing on a log at sunset, with dark background and soft lighting.

Two pink flamingos running in shallow water, with one flamingo chasing the other.

A roseate spoonbill bird standing on a railing with a blurred green natural background.

A pink flamingo standing in shallow water, with its neck bent back and head resting on its body, by the waterfront.

A pink flamingo standing on a wooden log against a cloudy sky.

Three pink flamingos standing in shallow water near a rocks, with one bird spreading its wings.

A pink and white flamingo standing in shallow water along a muddy shoreline.

A close-up of a pelican with a blue sky in the background, partially obscured by green leaves.

A pink and white stork standing on a weathered branch against a cloudy sky.

A pink flamingo flying against a clear blue sky.

A pink flamingo perched on a tree branch with its wings partially open.

Three flamingos standing near the water's edge with two partly submerged and one looking away, showing pink feathers and long legs, on a sandy shore at a lake or lagoon.

Two pink-colored pelicans walking across a shallow body of water with a reflective surface, one with wings partially open.

A pink flamingo flying in a clear blue sky.

A pink flamingo standing in shallow water with its wings partially open, creating a reflection in the water.

Two pink birds, likely flamingos, perched on a branch with one in flight, against a cloudy sky.

Two pink flamingos standing on a sandy shore near a body of water at sunset.

Two pink-colored pelicans in water, one with wings outstretched and the other with beak close to water surface, creating ripples.

Two pink and white ibises with long beaks in a shallow water body, one flying and the other running, creating splashes.

A pink flamingo standing on one leg in shallow water at sunset.

A pink flamingo standing on one leg on dirt near water, with one wing slightly extended, and another flamingo in the background resting with its head turned back.

Two pink and white ibises wading in shallow water on a sandy shore.

A group of pink flamingos standing in shallow water at the shoreline.

Two pink flamingos standing by a calm body of water with a muddy shore and tree roots in the foreground.

A white and pink pelican and a smaller brown and white bird standing in shallow water near reeds, with muddy shoreline in background.

Group of herons and egrets in a wetland, with some flying and others standing in the water near tall grass.

Coastal Movement: IOP, Sullivan’s, and the Creeks

A huge part of this year was spent around the water—from the edges of IOP and Sullivan’s Island to the busy docks of Shem Creek and the mudflats at Pitt Street Bridge. These spots are like a crossroads for our coastal birds. You'll see the Black Skimmers and Oystercatchers working the harbor, and Willets darting along the shorelines. They might be smaller than the Herons, but these shorebirds have just as much personality if you take the time to look.

A bird standing on a sandy beach near the ocean, with its wings raised. The ocean waves are visible in the background, and the sky is light pinkish in color.

A bird flying over a grassy field with a green background.

A solitary sandpiper standing on a sandy beach near the ocean, with blurred waves in the background.

A small bird, likely a sandpiper, wading on the shore of a beach, pecking at the wet sand near the water's edge during sunset or sunrise.

Three small shorebirds walking along the wet sand at the beach, with small waves approaching shore in the background.

A bird walking along the shoreline near the ocean with waves crashing in the background.

Seagull flying over calm water at dusk or dawn with pastel colors.

A blue beach chair on the sand with six black birds around it and perched on it, in an outdoor setting.

A puffin flying over water with a blurred shoreline in the background.

Five black-necked stilts wading in shallow water with a landscape of water and sky in the background.

Two black skimmers flying against a blue sky, one above the other in flight.

A black-legged kittiwake seabird flying over water with outstretched wings, showing black wing tips, white body, black head, and orange beak.

Five brown pelicans flying in a V formation against a partly cloudy sky.

A pelican flying over a grassy marsh with buildings in the background at sunset or sunrise.

Sunset sky over a pier with silhouettes of a person, a seagull in flight, and seagulls flying nearby, reflections on the ocean surface.

Songbirds, Kingfishers, and Woodpeckers

You have to be fast to catch these guys. This section is a mix of the birds that bring the most noise and movement to our local parks and backyards. I love the challenge of tracking the sudden, blue darts of a Kingfisher over the water or catching the rhythmic drumming of a Woodpecker deep in the woods. Whether it’s a tiny songbird tucked in the brush or a bird of prey’s smaller cousin, they represent that constant, lively energy that’s happening all around us if you just take a second to listen.

A small bird with yellow and black markings perched on top of a stone column with weathered, gothic-style design, surrounded by gray moss and lichen, with blurred green and beige background.

A small bird with black and white feathers and a spiky crest perched on a horizontal dry branch, with a white lattice fence and blurred greenery in the background.

A bird flying in the sky with blue and gray cloudy background.

A black and white bird flying low over water with blurred water background.

A black and white bird in flight over water, wings spread wide.

A black and white bird flying in a clear blue sky.

A bird perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky.

A woodpecker with a red head and black-and-white striped body perched on a weathered tree branch against a pale blue sky.

Two small birds perched on a sailboat mast; one bird is in flight near the mast with wings spread, while the other is sitting on top of the mast.

Three small birds perched and flying around a sailboat's mast against a cloudy sky.

A small bird perched on a branch among colorful autumn leaves and spiky seed pods, with a blurred background of blue sky and greenery.

A bird perched on a bare, thin branch against a plain, light blue sky.

A blue bird flying near leafless tree branches against a pale sky.

A female cardinal bird perched on a tree branch in a lush green forest with blurry foliage and bokeh lights in the background.

A black bird with a red patch on its face perched on a tall, thin reed plant against a clear blue sky.

A bird, possibly a Magpie Jay, perched on the top of a leafy tree against a clear blue sky.

A small bird perched on a thin branch with dried seed pods, against a soft, blurred background.

Small bird with a blue head and orange and white body perched on a metal railing outdoors, with blurred green trees in the background.

A woodpecker perched on a tree branch against a blue sky, with some leaves and smaller branches nearby.

A small bird with black, orange, and white feathers perched on a metal wire, with a blurred light beige background.

A small black and white bird perched on a bare, twisted tree branch, with a dark, blurred background.

A small yellow and black bird singing on a branch surrounded by green leaves.

On the Water & In the Woods: Geese, Divers, and Surprise Guests

This group is a mix of forest forage and pond life. A major highlight was trekking to the ACE Basin to catch the majestic Tundra Swans during their winter visit. It was also a treat catching the Wood Ducks perched on the bridge railings and the striking red bills of the Whistling-Ducks. From the rare 'Blue Morph' Snow Goose to Wild Turkeys on Folly Beach, these birds are full of character—especially when they're tipped 'tails to the sky' foraging in the shallows.

Two ducks standing on a weathered tree branch against a pale blue sky, one facing sideways and the other headed downward.

Two white swans swimming in a body of water with trees and power lines in the background.

Four ducks flying in a cloudy sky above trees.

Two ducks standing on a wooden bridge railing surrounded by lush green trees.

A male Hooded Merganser duck swimming in a body of water with ripples.

Two Anhinga birds perched on and flying around a gnarled tree branch in a natural setting with green foliage and blurred background.

A group of four young herons on a tree branch, with one heron calling out and the others looking on, amidst green foliage and a blurred background.

A bird with outstretched wings perched on a weathered tree branch.

A bird perched on a branch with a blurred green and white background.

A bird, likely a cormorant, perched on a curved tree branch with wings partially spread and beak open against a clear blue sky.

Two wild turkeys walking on a chalk-drawn colorful pathway in a green outdoor setting.

A mallard duck standing on a weathered tree branch amidst a foggy forest with moss and hanging Spanish moss.

A goose swimming in a lake near some dried reeds, with its reflection visible in the water.

The Wading Birds

These birds define the Lowcountry by standing perfectly still in the shadows. From the prehistoric look of Wood Storks and Night Herons (Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned) to the colorful Green, Little Blue, and Tricolored Herons, they are all about timing.

You’ll also find the massive Great Blue Herons, elegant Great and Snowy Egrets, and our local Ibis, which are always a highlight when they travel in large, social groups. They may look like statues, but they’re always just a split second away from a strike.

Four white and pink ibises perched on a dark tree branch, with green foliage on the left and blurry green trees in the background.

A white ibis bird standing on a concrete path with a dark background.

A wading bird, possibly a wood stork, standing on a moss-covered tree branch in a green, swampy area with hanging mosses in the background.

An ibis with a long beak standing on a tree branch in a lush green forest in Charleston, SC.

A white stork perched on a leafless tree branch against a clear blue sky.

An ibis stands among green grass near a body of water, with a blurred natural background in Charleston, SC.

Two painted ibises wading in a calm freshwater marsh with tall grass and reflections on the water.

A white heron with a long beak landing in a wetland area with tall trees and moss hanging from branches.

Two white storks standing in a marshy area surrounded by tall grasses and trees, with a large tree trunk on the left.

A white stork and a grey heron standing in dark water, their reflections visible on the surface.

A heron flying through dense green foliage, with its wings spread and beak pointed forward.

A heron perched on a branch with its wings slightly open amidst green foliage.

A heron flying over green foliage in a natural setting.

A majestic heron flying over calm water during sunset, with its wings fully spread and water ripples reflecting the sky.

A heron with outstretched wings standing in a shallow body of water near green reeds.

A heron standing in a marsh surrounded by dry, brown vegetation with some green plants, lit by warm evening sunlight.

Three juvenile herons in a nest on a tree branch, interacting with each other.

A blue heron flying away from a nest with two herons inside, amidst green trees.

Three herons on a nest, one with wings spread, in a natural wetland environment.

A tall tree with a nest at the top containing two herons, one perched and one landing with wings spread, against a clear sky.

A group of four juvenile herons in a nest on a tall tree, with one adult heron flying nearby against a clear blue sky.

Close-up of a great white egret with white feathers, a long yellow-orange beak, and a dark background.

Close-up of a heron with a long yellow beak and white head, resting on water.

A white heron standing in shallow water with its wings spread out, in a dark forest setting.

A great egret flying over green trees with a blurred background of more trees and sky.

A white heron standing on a branch against a blue sky.

A white egret flying near a dead tree branch against a blue sky.

A large white heron or egret landing on a branch against a blue sky with some clouds and sparse branches in the foreground.

A white bird with wings spread open perched on a tree branch with green leaves and orange flowers against a cloudy sky.

A white heron standing on a weathered tree branch against a blue sky, preening its feathers.

A white heron standing on a rock against a blue sky with a few clouds.

A great blue heron with three chicks in a nest on a tree branch surrounded by green foliage.

A white heron standing on a tree branch against a cloudy sky.

A white heron perched on a weathered tree branch against a clear blue sky.

A white heron perches on a twisted tree branch over dark water, with its reflection visible below.

A white egret standing on a tree branch with green leaves and orange flowers, against a cloudy sky.

A group of three different wading birds in a shallow body of water, including a pink flamingo, a white egret, and a white heron, with the egret standing upright and the heron flying.

A tall white heron standing among green grass and reeds by a body of blue water.

A white heron standing on a dark, curved tree branch with a blurred natural background.

A white bird, likely a heron, perched on a weathered tree branch against a clear blue sky.

Two white herons flying through a green forest with red berries on branches.

A large white heron flying with its wings spread wide in front of a rocky background.

A white bird with a yellow beak, possibly a heron or egret, sitting on a nest with two young chicks, surrounded by green foliage and branches.

A white heron with long legs and a long neck stands on a green leafy tree branch, with one wing partially open and the other wing closed, in a natural setting.

Two white herons on a nest in a tree, with one heron standing and the other in a courtship display, surrounded by green foliage.

A white heron with a long yellow beak and black legs perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky.

Several white herons and two pink ibises standing and flying in a marsh with tall reeds in the background.

A white heron perched on a curved tree branch with Spanish moss, against a clear blue sky.

A great egret flying near a leafless tree during daytime.

A white heron perched on a small branch against a clear blue sky.

Two white birds perched on a branch amidst red fall foliage with dark background and soft light.

Two herons perched on a tree branch, with one facing left and the other facing right, surrounded by leaves and moss.

A woodpecker perched on a branch against a blue sky.

A heron standing on a tree stump in a natural outdoor setting.

A bird perched on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves, with a dark beak, yellow eye, and brown and gray feathers.

A heron perched on a tree branch in a natural setting.

A heron standing on a mossy branch near water, with wings partially spread.

A heron standing on a weathered tree branch over water, with a blurred green forest background.

A bird in flight with dark wings and gray body, flying against a blurred natural background.

A bird with brown and white patterned feathers drinking water from a pond, creating a reflection of itself in the water.

A young bird, likely a heron, standing on a fallen log in a body of water, with its beak pointed to the left and surrounded by green plants.

A bird, possibly a heron, perched on a branch in a wooded area with green leaves and dark tree trunks in the background.

Two Verdins perched on a branch with lush green leaves in a natural habitat.

A white and pink stork and a smaller brown and white bird standing in shallow water near the edge of a marsh or river, with green reeds on the right side.

A white heron in flight with wings spread wide, approaching a blue sky, with another heron perched on a tree branch nearby.

Four herons perched on a tree branch against a clear blue sky, one in flight, with green leaves in the foreground.

A white heron standing on a tree branch against a bright blue sky.

A white heron perched on a horizontal tree branch against a light blue sky background.

A dark heron standing on a rock in a body of water, looking at a crocodile with part of its head visible above the water.

Two herons perched on a weathered tree branch against a blurred green background.

A black heron with wings partially open standing on a stone ledge near water.

A heron flying over a grassy wetland area with green foliage in the background.

A heron standing on a branch next to a bush, in a rainy natural setting with blurred greenery in the background.

A white heron with outstretched wings standing in shallow water, with a muddy shoreline in the background; the heron appears to be fishing.

A white egret walking on green grass with a blurred background.

A white heron with black legs and yellow feet standing on sandy ground near water, with wings partially spread.

A white heron taking off from a weathered tree branch with a blurred natural background.

A heron standing near water's edge on a piece of wood, surrounded by green grasses.

A young heron standing in shallow water, surrounded by dark greens and browns, with a piece of driftwood in the foreground.

A heron standing on a piece of driftwood near a body of water.

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The Raptors

he true rulers of the sky. This section is dedicated to the power and precision of our local birds of prey. Whether it’s an Osprey diving for a meal, a Bald Eagle perched high above the marsh, or a Red-tailed Hawk patrolling the fields, these shots capture the intensity that only a raptor can bring to the frame. They aren't seen as often as the others, so capturing them is always a treat.

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Thank you for taking the time to walk through my 2025 journey. Capturing these moments requires a lot of patience and even more luck, but it’s the quiet connection with nature that makes every hour in the field worth it. I hope these images bring a bit of the Lowcountry’s wild beauty into your day.