This column is the second of the two recounting some of the birding my wife and I did in South Carolina in January.<\/p>\n
After a couple of productive days in the Beaufort area, described in the first column, we headed north to Charleston.\u00a0 We had a great morning at the Caw Caw Interpretive Center near Ravenel off of U.S. 17. This area is a park of 654 acres.\u00a0 The area was previously three rice plantations and is now managed strictly for wildlife.\u00a0 With a mix of old rice fields, natural wetlands and forest, Caw Caw hosts a diversity of birds and other animals.\u00a0 A series of trails offers access to different habitats.\u00a0 In short, Caw Caw is a gem.<\/p>\n
It was a bit chilly by South Carolina standards when we were there (low 40s) and bird activity was low. Nonetheless, we compiled a nice list. Highlights included a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks, two raucous Red-shouldered Hawks, three Tree Swallows, a Common Yellowthroat among the hordes of Yellow-rumped Warblers, three Chipping Sparrows and several alligators sunning themselves on the banks of a canal.<\/p>\n
Our birding in the Charleston area was mainly in the adjacent town of Mount Pleasant.\u00a0 A walk along the board walk at Shem Creek Park yield a Bufflehead, six Horned Grebes, four Great Egrets, three Snowy Egrets, two Tricolored Herons and a stunning adult male Northern Harrier.<\/p>\n
A trip to Fort Moultrie was interesting historically as well as ornithologically. The sheltered water had Buffleheads, Horned Grebes, many Brown Pelicans and a Great Blue Heron.\u00a0 We were rewarded for our patience as we birded the dense thickets behind the interpretative center.\u00a0 Birds seen included one each of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird as well as a flock of 30 Cedar Waxwings.<\/p>\n
We toured the Fort, which affords a view of the open ocean.\u00a0 The sea was angry that day picking out birds on the water was difficult.<\/p>\n
We continued on to the small fishing village of McClellanville, just a bit south of Georgetown.\u00a0 We visited friends there for nearly a week.\u00a0 We went birding every day but I will cover just two of our excursions.<\/p>\n
The first trip was to Tibwin Plantation in Francis Marion National Forest.\u00a0 Access is off Highway 17 just a bit south of McClellanville. A walk of perhaps a mile through longleaf pine forest leads to a large freshwater impoundment with an observation blind. What a treat this area was.\u00a0 A number of ducks were spooked by our arrival but we enjoyed great looks at Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal.\u00a0 Two Pied-billed Grebes and lots of Double-crested Cormorants were present as well.<\/p>\n
The impoundment had some mudflats with six Western Sandpipers and three Short-billed Dowitchers. Over 40 Greater Yellowlegs foraged in shallow water.<\/p>\n
Two Belted Kingfishers announced their presence with loud rattles. A Red-tailed Hawk and then a Bald Eagle flew right over our heads.<\/p>\n
The highlight of the trip was a flock of American White Pelicans. In my experience, seeing a few of these pelicans along the coast in South Carolina is expected.\u00a0 I did not expect to see the 55 American White Pelicans we saw at Tibwin Plantation! The light was perfect on these birds with their bright yellow bills and gular pouches.<\/p>\n
Unlike Brown Pelicans that dive for fish, swimming American White Pelicans cooperatively herd fish into shallow water where they can be scooped up.\u00a0 It was great to see that behavior.<\/p>\n
A three-mile hike through the Santee Coastal Reserve north of McClellanville produced a nice list. We found an Anhinga, six American Coots, two Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Pileated Woodpecker, a Marsh Wren, two Carolina Wrens, both species of kinglets, six Swamp Sparrows and two Red-winged Blackbirds.<\/p>\n
If you are planning a trip to South Carolina, an excellent birding resource is:<\/p>\n