Blip Meet Day 5 - Flower and more birds

We left at 8am for a  two hour road trip this morning to Awendaw which is just north of Charleston.  The destination was the Avian Center for Birds of Prey to see a flight demonstration of birds that the center has rehabilitated and trained.  The center is a hospital for injured birds..they do try to rehab and release to the wild but they do keep the birds that cannot be released for displays.  There are owls, hawks, vultures, eagles and other birds.   The flight demo included two Harris hawks, a vulture and a swallowtail kite.

After lunch we headed over to Magnolia House and Gardens where we enjoyed a pleasant boat ride in the Ashley River which apparently is full of alligators as we saw so many along the banks and on special platforms that had been built for them.  We also walked the trails around the grounds of the colonial house.  The flowers were just gorgeous everywhere.   But there was also a swamp walking area where we saw more large birds like herons and egrets..along with more alligators and some turtles.  

I wanted to share some flowers today just because they were so pretty.  
But I did add a hawk, kite, an owl, some herons and a gator in the extras!  

Tomorrow is our last full day here in Beaufort.  We have a few plans but mostly I think we will be being lazy!  

Thanks for all the comments on yesterday's blip and any other days.  I have tried to respond but it won't be happening tonight!   Ready for the bed!