Lagoons of Hilton Head - The Wildlife Within

"Lagoon at Seawatch" Copyright Mary Montague Sikes

Picturesque lagoons dot Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. As a photographer, I've taken many pictures of lagoons especially the ones at Island Club, a resort that fronts on the Atlantic Ocean.

Alligators live in the lagoons and travel from one to another throughout the island. We used to see dozens of ducks along the lagoon banks. I would use photos to create paintings of those ducks swimming gracefully in the lagoon water. Several years ago, the ducks vanished because of an alligator that was killing them. After that alligator was trapped and moved elsewhere, a few ducks returned.

When we visited Hilton Head this year, we found the waters quiet again. There were turtles swimming, but almost no ducks visible anywhere.

"Atlantic Ocean" Copyright Mary Montague Sikes

The contrast between the ocean and the lagoons is dramatic. While the lagoons are quiet, the ocean waters rage during storms. I enjoy watching, photographing, and painting both.