Category Archives: Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Spending time with Lesser Yellowlegs at Huntington Beach State Park in SC

By Sally Siko

Yesterday I made a trip out to Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC.
The bird activity has upticked noticeably since my visit 2 weeks ago and I was pleased to see such a wide variety of species all in one spot.
In particular there were a ton of Lesser Yellowlegs hunting for a snack on the pond and mudflats.
It was really neat to watch these elegant birds making their way along the shore.



Yellowlegs are often seen foraging with other species of shorebirds on mudflats, in marshes, flooded fields, in shallow water pools and impoundments. Though they strongly prefer to hunt for a meal in fresh water, you can also find them feeding in brackish and salt water areas too, especially during migration.
Right now these guys are in full on gorging mode as they prepare to depart for their breeding grounds in Canada.
They’ll only be here for a few more weeks before returning in autumn to spend the winter in the Carolinas.



Speaking of other shorebirds, Lesser Yellowlegs may be difficult to ID as compared to a Greater Yellowlegs.If you’re lucky enough to spot both species side by side then making an ID is easier since Greater Yellowlegs are 1/3rd larger than Lessers.But what to do if there’s just one of the two species in front of you?Check the bill first.

Lesser Yellowlegs bills are proportionally, smaller in length relative to its head and straight in angle.The bill of the Greater is (very!) slightly upturned and is used to skim small animals & insects from the surface of the water as the bird swings it from side to side.This swing-skim behavior is seldom seen in the Lesser Yellowlegs, making the task of differentiating the two species a little easier when viewing them at a long distance or in poor lighting conditions.

Hope that helps!
Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

It’s Great Egret nesting season in the Carolinas

By Sally Siko

It’s spring and breeding season has begun for the Great Egrets in the Carolinas.
I spotted several pairs preening, sitting and squabbling on their nests while birding yesterday morning at the Pinckney Island NWR in SC.
The male Egrets are looking impressive with those bright white plumes sticking out and that lime green coloring on his lores.
It’s fascinating to see the change in their appearance over just a couple of weeks!



As you can see here Great Egrets are colony nesters, banding together as a group as there is strength in numbers when it comes to deterring predators.
The rookery here at Pinckney is populated by Snowy Egrets, Great Egrets, Anhingas, and a handful of Little Blue Herons.
It’s a noisy stinky spot with weird calls, gurgles and shrieks emanating from the scrubby trees filled with nesting birds.



Their nests are large, tangled messes of sticks which serve as a platform on which to incubate the eggs and raise the chicks. These flimsy structures are not exactly the works of art that other birds make, but they seem to work for the egrets lol!
Great Egret eggs are a pale greenish blue, and will be incubated by both the male and female for about 23 to 24 days. Once the chicks hatch, both parents will be kept busy feeding their young for the next 2-3 weeks until the little ones fledge.
In two years, the youngsters will be mature and may return to this spot to breed and add to the every growing cycle of life found at this rookery.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Spending time with a Sora in SC

By Sally siko

After years of trying, I finally managed to grab a few photos of a Sora this morning while birding at the Pinckney NWR in SC.
I’d added this species to my list ages ago but somehow never had an opportunity to get a portrait of one.
This bird was scurrying in between the dense, dark cover of reeds so it was very difficult to photograph it but I’ll take what I can get!



Measuring about 8in (about the size of a Robin), Soras are small members of the rail family of birds.
As with other rails, Soras are best found hunting for a meal along the shorelines of reedy ponds, in swamps, wetlands, marshes, and other semi-aquatic habitats. Their favorite habitats have a variety of vegetation, including reeds, rushes, tall grasses, and cattails.
This species also inhabits farms and pastures in agricultural areas particularly flooded out fields or meadows.



With a range stretching across southern Canada, the entirety of the United States down into Mexico and Central America, Soras are perhaps the western hemispheres most common species of rail. That being said, their small size and secretive nature can make them a challenge to actually see!
Luckily they are pretty vocal and will respond to a sharp noise, like clapping your hands, whereupon all the Soras nearby will start peeping and whinnying in chorus, letting you know how numerous they really are.

Soras are a migratory visitor to the central and eastern counties of the Carolinas. The best time to look for them are now through early May and again from late August through early October.
You’ve got about 5 weeks to enjoy these birds here in the Tarheel state this spring so get out there and see them!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Piping Plovers in South Carolina

By Sally Siko

What a difference in appearance a couple of months can make when it comes to bird plumage.
While on a recent trip to Huntington Beach SP in Murrells Inlet SC I had a chance to see a pair of Piping Plovers.
This is the second time in just a few months that I’ve encountered this species and I was pleased to be able to catch a nice look at them in their breeding attire (note black bands on the neck & forehead)
The last time I saw these tiny birds I didn’t think they could get any cuter but I stand corrected lol!
Watching them scurry up and down the shore on those speedy little legs made me smile.



Did you know that there are only three main breeding populations of Piping Plovers?
They occupy three general areas: the Atlantic Coast, the Great Lakes region, and the northern Great Plains region.
The wintering ranges of the three breeding populations overlap and extend from North Carolina to Florida on the Atlantic Coast and from the Florida Gulf Coast to Texas and into Mexico, the West Indies, and the Bahamas.



North Carolina is home to a small number of nesting Piping Plovers thus the may be found along the coast north of Cape Hatteras throughout the year.
Interestingly though they spend more (overall) time in North Carolina, your odds of seeing one appear to be increased if you look for them during the winter & early spring months along South Carolina’s beaches.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Red-breasted Merganser encounter at Huntington Beach State Park

By Sally Siko

One of the obvious challenges that comes with photographing a bird is of course that they move around quite a bit.
Add the Atlantic Ocean waves and a species of diving duck and now I’ve got a whole fresh set of obstacles to deal with.
In this case I was incredibly lucky to be able to catch a fair amount of shots of this male Red-breasted Merganser swimming right offshore which was freak’n awesome!


Normally these ducks swim behind the breakers, diving constantly in search of a meal. Even when shooting at 600mm, trying to photograph one from so far away is difficult to say the least.
Perhaps the best way to describe it would be like trying to photograph fleas jumping on a running dogs back from 20 ft away using a zoom lens lol!
In any case I took this opportunity for what it was and even though I still had to crop these images, I’m stoked to finally catch some useable photos of this handsome bird.



A member of the “Sawbill” family of ocean faring ducks for its long, thin serrated bill, Red-breasted Mergansers are voracious eaters of fish.
The young ones will also eat crustaceans and insects until they learn to hunt on the open water.
These guys are strong underwater swimmers, easily able to catch a slippery fish in that serrated bill and there are even reports of flocks of RBM’s hunting for schools fish cooperatively by driving them into shallow waters.
Red-breasted Mergansers aren’t just speedy underwater, they happen to be one of the fastest flyers of all the duck species in North America with speeds clocking in approaching 80mph at level flight.
Crazy!

Red-breasted Mergansers are usually found in brackish and saltwater habitats in the eastern counties of the Carolinas. That being said, smaller numbers also frequent our fresh water impoundments, lakes, and ponds, usually for short periods of time, both inland and coastally.
They’ll stick around until late May before they heading north to their breeding grounds so you’ve still got plenty of time to see them.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5


Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Red winged Blackbird at Huntington Beach, SC

By Sally Siko

When you’re exploring the coastal marshes and wetlands of the Carolinas there’s one bird which you’re almost 100% guaranteed to see, the Red-winged Blackbird.
Oh and not just see but hear!
High and low, their raucous metallic sounding calls seem to emanate from everywhere.
Yes they are common and thus often overlooked but gosh, if ya take the time to watch one for a bit you’ll find that they are quite beautiful.



It’s all about the details in my opinion.
I like that delicate rusty-gold colored lacing pattern of plumage on this males back. That hint of bright red lined with orange and yellow feathers on his wing.
Plus the jet black attire is always pretty cool looking in my book.
Truly a striking bird.

For now these guys are a laid back bunch but once breeding season arrives, male Red winged Blackbirds will become aggressively territorial.When singing to defend his turf or to attract a female, the male fluffs those bright red epaulettes and half-spreads his wings to show off those red and yellow feathers.
This display is meant to intimidate rival males and sends a clear message of “back off” to all challengers.
Red-winged Blackbirds nest in loose colonies, with a male attracting up to 15 females to nest within his home turf.He’ll vigorously protects his territory against all intruders, be it on four feet or two.They’ve even been known to swoop in to attack people on occasion when we come a bit too close to their nests for their liking.
Something to keep in mind soon when birding near water lol!



Though they are more numerously spotted in our eastern counties, Red-winged Blackbirds are found across the Carolinas from the mountains to the coast.
Look for them near ponds, lakes, estuaries and marshes throughout the year, especially in areas where cat-tail plants are present.

Photos & video by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

South Carolina Sanderling encounter

By Sally Siko

Walking up the beach during my recent birding trip to the Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC, I spotted a Sanderling messing around with a jellyfish which had washed up on the shore.
It appeared that the bird was eating the gelatinous blob or at least giving it a taste. Whatever the case, the Sanderling was quite protective of his find and would chase off any other birds that approached his meal.
I’ve never seen a Sanderling snacking on a jellyfish before and I wondered if the bird was enjoying the meal or just super hungry and willing to suck it up because other options were limited lol!



A familiar shorebird to many here in Carolinas, Sanderlings are usually seen scurrying after waves as they roll back out to sea always in the hunt for tiny crustaceans and mollusks exposed by the retreating water.These tiny birds are quite entertaining to watch! With legs that seem to move a ‘mile a minute, these pint sized dynamos make quick work in their efforts to find a meal on the beach.

Sanderlings are one of the most common species of Sandpiper in the world. Indeed, during the wintertime they may be found along every coastline in the United States including Alaska and Hawaii too.Here in South Carolina they are a year round resident but during the summer, they are slightly less common because the ones who spend the warmer months here on our beaches are non breeding birds.Whatever the season, it’s always nice to see one

Photos & video by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Quality time photographing an Anhinga at Huntington Beach State Park

By Sally Siko

Nicknamed the snake bird, some people think that Anhingas aren’t the most attractive species but I think they are beautiful!
It’s that turquoise color around their eyes and the combination of warm brown and black plumage which is pleasing to my artistic senses.
Truly they possess a unique look in the avian world.



Anhingas are actually a species that is on the increase here in the Carolinas. They favor habitats containing freshwater with cypress trees and are most often spotted hunting for a meal in swamps, ponds and lakes in the coastal plain and in the eastern Piedmont regions.

As you may have guessed, Anhingas eat a wide range of aquatic creatures such as fish, crayfish, small invertebrates, insects, and frogs.Masters of underwater hunting expeditions, they are super entertaining to watch wrangling a meal.In fact, they’ve evolved with some unique ways to hunt underwater more efficiently.For one, they lack the water proofing oils found in duck species. Since (surprisingly) they’re not the strongest swimmers, they become waterlogged once their feathers become saturated. This added weight allows the Anhinga to dive deeper than it could if it was waterproof.Another specialized feature of the Anhinga is that they do not have nostrils. This adaptation means they’ve got no worries about accidentally breathing in water while hunting below the surface.

I think that it’s neat that a bird that looks like it belongs in the Jurassic Period would actually be the one species which is holding the latest in cutting edge freshwater hunting physiology, lol!

Photos and video by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty mirrorless monster, the @canonusa #R5

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

A Common Gallinule encounter in South Carolina

By Sally Siko

One of the most unique looking birds we’ve got here in the Carolinas is the Common Gallinule.
I spotted these two a few weeks ago while birding at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC.



These sharp looking relieves of the Coot are mostly found in our eastern coastal counties though they do stray further inland from time to time.
Generally, Gallinules are not easily spotted as populations are scarce in certain areas within it’s overall range, yet they may be locally common in others so it sort of depends on where you are in regards to chances of seeing one.

Common Gallinules breed in areas where they have access to small ponds and marshes to hunt for a meal and are easily identified by their charcoal black plumage and by that bright red and-yellow bill, and of course by those huge yellow feet.
Unlike their cousin the Purple Gallinule, Common’s spend a lot of time swimming vs. the Purple’s preference to search for a a meal on foot. This behavior difference is a helpful way to ID them when viewing one from a distance or in poor lighting conditions




These understated beauties are a year round resident of the Tarheel state but are much easier to find during the spring and summer.
Along with the Huntington Beach State Park in SC, you also have a good chance of finding Common Gallinules at the Lake Mattamuskeet NWR in Swansquarter, NC during the winter months so it’s worth keeping an eye out for them over the next few months.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on the full frame beast of an SLR, the mighty @canonusa
#5Ds

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Snowy Egrets at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC

By Sally Siko

Although their numbers have been in decline in recent years, Snowy Egrets are still a relatively common sight in our wetlands and marshy areas of coastal of North Carolina.
With that bright yellow eye cere, the crown-full of white plumes and a menacing stare Snowy Egrets are indeed a striking bird to photograph, especially in the slanting light of an early morning.



Don’t let their delicate appearance fool you though. These beautiful birds are expert hunters, deadly assassins to fish, crustaceans, small invertebrates and insects alike.
Wading through shallow waters, they’ll use their yellow toes to stir up the mud in order to flush out a snack buried beneath their feet.
Once the prey tries darts away they’ll strike with deadly precision often impaling their meal with its bill before swallowing it whole.



Snowy’s are a year round resident of coastal NC, however since they are a migratory species as well, your odds of seeing one are better duration the spring, and months.
They are also noted as post breeding transient visitors to the Piedmont region and western NC from late July to September in inland areas of the state.
Aren’t they lovely?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds