Ecordes3photography

Ecordes3photography Internationally Published / Exhibited Photographer

ecordes3photography.com

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Grace in the stillness of the swamp 🌿This elegant Great Egret perched quietly above Brown Lake, blending perfectly into ...
03/19/2026

Grace in the stillness of the swamp 🌿

This elegant Great Egret perched quietly above Brown Lake, blending perfectly into the muted tones of a South Carolina winter landscape. Moments like this are what make early mornings and patience behind the lens worth it—watching nature unfold in its purest form.

Those delicate plumes and that piercing gaze… absolute perfection in white.

📍 Brown Lake – Barnwell, South Carolina

📸 Sony A1 + 600mm f/4 GM OSS

Sometimes you just have to shake the day off. 🦆💧This Ring-necked Duck was enjoying a calm afternoon on the water at Bric...
03/06/2026

Sometimes you just have to shake the day off. 🦆💧

This Ring-necked Duck was enjoying a calm afternoon on the water at Brick Pond Park in North Augusta, South Carolina, when suddenly he popped up and gave himself a full-body splash and shake. Moments like this only last a fraction of a second, but they’re some of my favorite to capture because they show the personality and behavior of the wildlife we share these places with.

Despite the name, the “ring” on a Ring-necked Duck is actually very hard to see in the field. The species is easier to identify by its bright golden eye, bold white bill markings, and the sharp contrast between its dark head and light gray sides. They’re excellent diving ducks and can stay underwater for surprisingly long periods while searching for aquatic plants and insects.

Little moments like this remind me that even a simple afternoon at the pond can turn into a fun wildlife encounter.

📍 Brick Pond Park — North Augusta, South Carolina

📷 Sony A1 + Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)📍 Backyard Bird VillageThe Tufted Titmouse is a year-round resident throughout the S...
02/26/2026

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)

📍 Backyard Bird Village

The Tufted Titmouse is a year-round resident throughout the Southeast and one of the most intelligent small woodland birds you’ll encounter.

These birds are known for:
• Caching seeds — storing food in bark crevices for later
• Traveling in mixed-species flocks with chickadees and nuthatches
• Their clear, whistled call often described as “peter-peter-peter”
• Bold, curious behavior — they’re often the first to investigate feeders

Notice the soft gray crest, large dark eye, and the subtle rusty wash along the flanks — classic field marks that make identification easy in good light.

Moments like this remind me how much personality can fit into such a small frame.

📷 Sony A1 + 600mm f/4 GM OSS
📍 North Augusta, SC

Golden light and quiet patience.This elegant Great Egret stood perfectly still along the pond’s edge, letting the late-d...
02/25/2026

Golden light and quiet patience.

This elegant Great Egret stood perfectly still along the pond’s edge, letting the late-day light paint soft shadows across its feathers.

Moments like this are why I love shooting at 600mm — the ability to stay back, respect the wildlife, and still capture every detail in that piercing yellow eye and textured plumage.

Brick Pond never disappoints… you just have to slow down long enough to see what’s already there.

📷 Sony A1 + 600mm f/4 GM OSS
— ecordes3photography

🖤💛 Golden Eye on the WaterThis striking male Ring-necked Duck glided through the calm waters at Brick Pond Park, catchin...
02/24/2026

🖤💛 Golden Eye on the Water

This striking male Ring-necked Duck glided through the calm waters at Brick Pond Park, catching that soft golden light just right. That bright yellow eye against the deep black head is what makes this species so captivating in winter.

Moments like this are why I love working with long glass — isolating the subject, compressing the background, and letting the details shine. The water droplets and subtle wake tell the whole story of motion and stillness in one frame.

📍 Brick Pond Park
📷 Sony A1
🔭 Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS

Nature never disappoints — you just have to be ready.

Now this is a winter moment done right ❄️🐿️Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)That soft snow, the peaceful post...
02/17/2026

Now this is a winter moment done right ❄️🐿️

Eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)

That soft snow, the peaceful posture, the eyes gently closed — almost like this little one is soaking in the calm of a Southern winter morning. I love how the warm tones in the fur contrast against the cool whites of the snow. Nature always finds balance.

There’s something special about wildlife in winter — quieter, more intimate, more intentional. Moments like this remind me why I always carry the camera.

📍 Winter wildlife scene
📸 Sony A1 + Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS
🔍 Super-telephoto wildlife capture

🦆 Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) — Carolina Bay GlowA male Hooded Merganser glides through warm reflections at...
02/12/2026

🦆 Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) — Carolina Bay Glow

A male Hooded Merganser glides through warm reflections at Carolina Bay Nature Park—that bold white crest, golden eye, and rich chestnut flanks cutting cleanly through the dark water.

Hooded Mergansers are specialized fish-eaters with serrated bills for gripping prey and eyes adapted for underwater vision. When calm like this, they’re pure elegance; when hunting, they’re lightning quick beneath the surface.

📷 Sony A1
🔭 Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS

—

Edward H. Cordes III
ecordes3photography.com

🦉 Barred Owl (Strix varia) — Silent DescentCaught in a fleeting moment of motion, this Barred Owl launched from its perc...
02/09/2026

🦉 Barred Owl (Strix varia) — Silent Descent

Caught in a fleeting moment of motion, this Barred Owl launched from its perch with wings fully spread, revealing the intricate banding that makes these owls so striking in flight. Known for their near-silent wings and piercing dark eyes, Barred Owls are powerful nocturnal hunters, relying on stealth rather than speed.

Their specialized feather structure breaks up airflow, allowing them to move through the forest almost soundlessly—one of nature’s most impressive adaptations. Moments like this last only a second, but they tell the whole story of precision, patience, and wild instinct.

Sony A1
Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS

📸 Edward H. Cordes III
ecordes3photography.com

❄️ Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)Soft snowfall, muted winter tones, and a flash of warm color—this fem...
02/08/2026

❄️ Female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Soft snowfall, muted winter tones, and a flash of warm color—this female Northern Cardinal brought life and contrast to an otherwise quiet moment. Often overshadowed by the bright red males, females carry a more subtle beauty, blending earthy hues with striking red accents and that unmistakable orange bill.

Cardinals are non-migratory birds, remaining active year-round and adding color to winter landscapes when much of nature feels still. Scenes like this are a reminder that even the coldest days offer moments worth slowing down for.

Sony A1 + Sony 600mm f/4 GM OSS

📸 Edward H. Cordes III
ecordes3photography.com

❄️ Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)A flash of brilliant red against a quiet winter backdrop—this male Northern ...
02/07/2026

❄️ Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

A flash of brilliant red against a quiet winter backdrop—this male Northern Cardinal stood perfectly still as light snow drifted through the scene. Cardinals are non-migratory, remaining active year-round, and moments like this are exactly why they’re considered one of winter’s most iconic birds.

Captured at the Backyard Bird Village, where even the coldest days can deliver unforgettable color and character.

📷 Camera: Sony A1
🔭 Lens: Sony FE 600mm f/4 GM OSS

—

Edward H. Cordes III
ecordes3photography.com

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North Augusta, SC

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https://alphauniverse.com/member/#/edward-cordes-iii/

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