During my visit to Charleston, my father and I spent several hours exploring the wetlands of Bear Island WMA and Donnelly WMA – two beautiful wildlife management areas in the “Ace Basin” south of Charleston. I snapped nearly a thousand photos, and present the best two dozen in the gallery. Below, a blue heron settles in near an island, where an anhinga dries its wings; these two had an altercation earlier… read on for the drama!

The anhinga was an expert fisherman, swimming underwater for long periods, then surfacing with a fish skewered on its beak.

It would wrestle the fish for several minutes. Below, though, notice the legs of a great blue heron approaching from the left.

Then, all of a sudden, the heron grabs the fish!

It all happened within seconds! I include more photos from their battle in the gallery, along with other photos of herons, egrets, spoonbills, cormorants, anhingas, terns, swans, ibis, alligators, and more. Check it out!