Mixing Business with Pleasure ~ Since We’re Heading That Way…

It all started with having to go to the grocery store. We needed to pick up a few special items at Whole Foods in Mt. Pleasant. Since our Whole Foods is very close to Shem Creek, I suggested we swing by there so that I could take a few pictures of a boat that I’m painting in my latest Brown Pelican painting. I’ve been working around not having the details I need to finish the boat.

Then I thought since I’ll have my camera we might as well drive out Ben Sawyer Blvd to see if the Roseate Spoonbills were in the marshland in the sound before you head over toward the bridge. We had seen a few posts on Facebook that hinted at their location. Birders can be somewhat secretive if they discover unusual birding activity. But, I’m a little like Inspector Clouseau in that I can usually solve the mystery and find the birds! :)

It was already 10 o’clock in the morning and with adding Ben Sawyer Blvd and Shem Creek to our grocery store run, I calculated that it very well could be perfect timing to have lunch out and satisfy my Mozzo Deli craving before going to Whole Foods. After all, Mozzo Deli is right there on Coleman Blvd just down from Ben Sawyer Blvd.

We’ve been a little cooped up with all the rain the Charleston area has been having. It was nice and sunny out, we hadn’t been birding for awhile, this was business, etc… so Jen said sounds like a plan!

First stop was to find the Spoonbills! As we started to drive over the causeway to Sullivan’s Island, there they were, just off to the left along the shoreline. Maybe a dozen of them along with some Ibis and Willets. I did a quick U-turn and found some parking at a new apartment complex. There was no sidewalk along the causeway on the left side so we had to walk towards traffic and step off into the grass with passing cars. So I took a few quick shots, disappointed that I couldn’t stay longer and maybe work my way closer through some mudflats like another birder had done.

Sadly, it was no time to get all hot and sweaty and up to my ankles in mud for we had other errands to run. Not that I enjoy that, but sometimes it’s necessary to get the “money shot”. :)

Next stop was Shem Creek. I was hoping the boat I needed to photograph was going to be docked along the creek where I had seen it before. The boat is called Tuff e Nuff. It looks like a lobster boat but has a sign on it Bait Boat. As we walked the boardwalk heading to the dock a Tricolored Heron was heading our way, flying from the Spartina marsh grass, and landed on the railing right in front of us. He was a handsome bird! A bonus shot on this outing.

Fortunately Tuff e Nuff was right where I had photographed it before. I took all the detail shots that I needed. Then I turned my lens on the Brown Pelicans that were busy sunning themselves and preening on top of the shrimp boats. One in particular stood out. I call him Mr. Brown. :)

Everything had gone according to plan in a short amount of time. Now it was time for lunch! Next stop, Mozzo Deli!!! I was craving a classic Reuben sandwich. It was my first time ordering it at Mozzo and boy oh boy was it good. One of the best! Jen loved her Margarita sandwich as well.

Finally, we made a quick trip to Whole Foods and headed home. We love that Mount Pleasant has so much to offer. In such a short amount of time we had a wonderful outing. I guess you could call it mixing business with pleasure! :)

My painting of a life-size Brown Pelican at Shem Creek is on the easel now, but I should be wrapping it up in the next few days. Thank you for reading my journal and for your interest in my art and photography! It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it! :)

“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”

— William R. Beebe

NewsWilliam R. BeebeSeptember 3, 2022Brown Pelicans, brown pelican portraits, Paintings of Brown Pelicans, Shem Creek SC, Roseate Spoonbill, Tricolored herons10 Comments