Living in the Georgia Piedmont is wonderful. Not only do I have rich scenes full of natural beauty right around my own city, but other habitats are easily within reach for day hikes. In only 2 to 3 hours, I can be looking over the peaks and valleys of the North Georgia Mountains. A four-hour drive takes me to coastal waters and islands of Georgia and South Carolina. A five-hour drive transports me to the charm of the Spanish Moss-laden Old South. I can spend any given afternoon photographing in any ecosystem I desire and be back in my own bed by nightfall!

One of my favorite places to get my fix of a wetlands habitat is Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia. I’d typically have to drive over four hours to find such a rich habitat complete with long-legged waders and alligators. But Phinizy is less than 2 hours away! On this particular day hike I left my home at 7:00 AM, took in 3 hours of birding and wildlife photography, and was home by 3:00 PM for college football.

Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is an environmental wastewater treatment facility and waterfowl impound. According to their website, the City of Augusta was ordered to upgrade its wastewater treatment system in 1993.  Instead of releasing treated wastewater into Butler Creek, a series of wetland cells was created to further purify the water before being released into the Savannah River. Well maintained, wide paths circle the wetland cells making birding and wildlife viewing easy for even those who are unable to otherwise hike over rough or technical terrain. 

​It rained almost my entire drive from Athens. As I drove, I was worried that I was only wasting gas and time just to be rained out upon arrival. But thankfully all the rain stopped and I had several hours of dry time to hike Phinizy's paths... not even any drizzle! Then, on my drive home it began to pour again. So I was even more thankful for the pause in rainfall just for my outing. 

Our annual church marriage retreat was in Chattanooga, TN this year. On Friday morning we visited High Point Park on Overlook Mountain. 

"Glory" was a cute orange female kitten surrendered to the animal shelter in July 1, 2025. She was adopted into a new home the next day! ​

"Glitter" was a playful little black kitten that I photographed in the animal control adoption center on June 25, 2025.

"Luisy" was a cute little female white and tiger kitten that I photographed in the animal shelter on June 24, 2025.

"Nickel" was a cute littler Terrier mix dog that was picked up stray by an animal control officer on June 21, 2025. We did an indoor pet adoption photo session together on June 24, 2025. He finally got a new home on July 16, 2025!

"Cowboy" was a cattledog mix breed puppy that was turned in to the animal control shelter on June 9, 2025. We did a quick outdoor pet adoption photo session on the picnic table behind the shelter on June 17, 2025 and he was rescued on June 20, 2025!

A morning hike at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta, Georgia. Being a relatively short drive from my home in Athens, GA, Phinizy is a wonderful place for me to visit and observe so much wildlife in just a few hours of walking. 

I always begin my walk by heading straight toward the back with the wetland cells to my left. The first cell always has water and there are typically egrets and gators to be seen. The second cell is usually only half inundated with water but almost always has Gallinules cutting through the duckweed. The far back cells on the western side are almost always overgrown. Those are a great place for birding by ear, but other than occasional Red-winged Blackbirds popping up, the wildlife is able to stay well secluded.
 
A day never ends without walking across the long wooden bridge to the large pond on the northeastern corner of Phinizy. This is where I nearly always find newborn to juvenile American Alligators, depending up on the time of year. After spotting one youngster, I will sometimes play audio of chirping baby alligators and other young ones soon appear. 
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All together, Phinizy Swamp Nature Park is an excellent spot for a day hike, but with the feel of large wildlife refuge. So much is packed into this little piece of property. Not only do the hikers, runners walkers like it, but the birds and alligators do too! 

A lunchtime walk near my office...

"Toffee" was a cute female kitten I photographed in the animal control shelter adoption center on May 1, 2025. She was adopted into a new home the next day!