December’s Frosty Glow: Birding at Donnelley WMA and Beyond
On a frigid Lowcountry morning, with the thermometer dipping to 29 degrees, frost blanketed the marshes of Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, Bear Island’s Mary’s Pond, and the Bailey Road Impoundments. The heavy frost sparkled in the golden hues of dawn, creating a striking tableau for birding and photography.
The fog hovered over ponds, a phenomenon born of warmer water meeting icy air, adding an ethereal quality to the morning. As the first rays of sunlight kissed the frost, the landscape erupted in vibrant tones of gold and blue, transforming the marsh into a winter wonderland.
Among the day’s highlights were over 30 bird species, including the welcome sight of winter arrivals. Large flocks of White Pelicans soared gracefully, accompanied by Canada Geese and Mute Swans. A burst of activity came from Yellow-rumped Warblers and Robins flitting among the trees.
Raptors stole the show as seven Bald Eagles—parents and a juvenile—surveyed the wetlands, their powerful forms silhouetted against the frosty backdrop. Meanwhile, the white waders—Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets—glided through the misty ponds, their slow, deliberate movements seemingly conserving energy in the chill. Great Blue Herons stood sentinel-like among them, while Black-crowned Night Herons remained tucked in the marsh grasses.
A surprising duo of Roseate Spoonbills lingered, a brave splash of pink against the muted tones of a near-winter marsh. Overhead, a flock of Wood Ducks flew past, their calls piercing the stillness, while a familiar Eastern Phoebe hunted for flies. Belted Kingfishers darted and perched, their sharp rattles echoing across the water.
As the frost melted under the rising sun, the marsh grass gleamed golden, and the pond reflected the deepest blue of a winter sky. Just as we prepared to leave, a lone alligator emerged from its muddy hideaway on the edge of a marsh island, a quiet reminder of the resilience of life even in the cold.
December mornings like this remind us of the quiet beauty of the Lowcountry and the magic of its avian inhabitants.