We began with 

a walk along a boardwalk through a bald cypress swamp. These conifers have trunks that are swollen at their bases. Each tree puts up a number of knees, short woody growths that extend a few feet above the black water of the swamp. Water tupelos were also common trees, also having buttressed trunks. The surface of the water was a green, unbroken carpet of duckweed, a small aquatic floating plant. You may have seen duckweed in Maine.

The birds here were few, mostly Yellow-rumped Warblers. A small impoundment at the end of the boardwalk had no ducks. We did see a large number of Double-crested Cormorants and a lone Anhinga flying toward an adjacent impoundment.  We backtracked down the boardwalk and walked toward the second impoundment. On the way, a Red-shouldered Hawk called repeatedly overhead.

At the second impoundment, we found a number of cormorants. I was glad I had lugged my spotting scope along because we enjoyed leisurely views of two Belted Kingfishers perched on the bank in perfect light.

Lots of Hooded Mergansers were on the water along with a Pied-billed Grebe. A Great Blue Heron and a Great Egret were patrolling the shallows for incautious fish. Hundreds of Tree Swallows were hawking unseen insects above the water.

Walking around the impoundment along a woodland path, we heard the chip notes of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets in the upper reaches of the live oaks. I began to pish to try to draw the birds closer. (In case you have never heard a birder pish, the birder rapidly repeats “psssh” to mimic a general alarm call. Landbirds will often come close to investigate and possibly mob the intruder.)

Before long, 60 birds were close by. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were the most common although we picked out a Golden-crowned Kinglet, several titmice, a White-breasted Nuthatch and Carolina Chickadees. At least one Pine Warbler was among the many yellow-rumps. Quite a spectacle.

Continuing along the path, we came to a sluice that controls the level of the water in the impoundment. Forty feet away, two Wood Storks were perched on a tree adjacent to the outflow stream. They sat calmly while we enjoyed watching them through the spotting scope.

A Brown Pelican was on the water in the impoundment. Brown Pelicans generally occur in saltwater habitats but occasionally venture into freshwater habitats. A Pied-billed Grebe could be in the same scope view as the pelican.

It is hard to go for very long in coastal South Carolina without seeing vultures. A number of Turkey Vultures hovered during most of our walk. Black Vultures were present as well although in lower numbers. Telling the two species apart is flight is straightforward. Turkey Vultures hold their wings in a shallow V while soaring while Black Vultures have their wings extended horizontally like an eagle or Red-tailed Hawk. The tail of a Turkey Vulture is long while that of Black Vultures is noticeably short. When a Black Vulture spreads its tail, the tail seems to disappear into the hind margin of the long wings. Finally, Black Vultures have a large white area on the tip of the underwing. Seen in the right light, these white areas glisten against the black background.

We were pleased to see some butterflies on the wing. A Cloudless Sulphur, a larger relative of the Clouded Sulphur that is so common in Maine, flitted by. We saw several Red Admirals, perched on the ground. The butterflies were courting mates and occasionally flew up for a brief dogfight with another admiral. Red Admirals feed on sap and decaying matter so the rarity of flowers posed no problem for them. We saw a few Green Darners, a large dragonfly with a striking green head and blue body.

On the way back to the parking lot, we walked through an open field with scattered trees. This area looked like perfect habitat for Eastern Bluebirds and so it was. At least six were present. Extended views through the spotting scope of two males perched on the outer branches of a live oak provided a fitting end to a wonderful trip.

[Originally published on January 24, 2008]