Tag Archives: huntington beach state park birding

Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Painted Buntings at Huntington Beach State Park, SC

Seeing one of these colorful birds is such a treat!
Although I’ve encountered Painted Buntings many times over the years, it never gets old. I spent a few minutes photographing this handsome fellow while on a recent birding trip to SC. Though the birds are brightly hued they can be a little reclusive behavior-wise which makes them a challenge to find. The easiest way to locate one is to listen for their high pitched buzzzzed zeeeep calls from ground level to about 20 ft in the brush.


Painted Buntings can be found in open areas along the far edge of the coastlines of the Carolinas (and throughout the southern states) catching grasshoppers, weevils and other beetles, caterpillars, bugs, spiders, snails, wasps and flies.During non-breeding months of early spring and late summer, they prefer to eat seeds, thus if you happen to live on the beaches or barrier islands of the Carolinas, Painted Buntings may become regular visitors to your backyard feeders.


By the way, as colorful as these birds are, their favorite seed is plain as can be lol!If you’d like to entice a visit from one of these feathered gems, fill your feeders with white millet, a seed that is commonly snubbed by other birds yet abundant in the most basic of mixed seed blends.How cool is that?!

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

Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

Dowitchers in SC

One of the interesting birds I encountered at Huntington Beach SP last weekend was a flock of Short and Long billed Dowitchers.
Dowitchers are generally autumn and spring migratory visitors to the Carolinas however a few non-breeding adults may spend the entire year in our coastal counties.
Often spotted looking for a snack on mudflats, they are medium sized shorebirds with plump bodies sporting a pleasing pattern of golden brown spotted and barred plumage.



Right now it’s feeding time as they are fattening up, packing in the calories needed in preparation for their departure to their breeding grounds in Alaska and Canada.
Dowitchers use their long bills to probe into the mud in (reminiscent of a sewing pattern as seen trailing behind in the second photo)to find a meal. Their diet consists of marine worms, small invertebrates, crustaceans, horseshoe crab eggs and insects.
There’s a frenzy of activity going on as the birds squabble over catches but luckily here at Huntington, plenty of worms are available for all.


The majority of Long and Short-billed Dowitchers will soon head north once they’ve put on enough weight.
Look for Short bill’s in saltwater and brackish water habitats and Long billed in fresh and brackish water habitats for another few weeks.
Hopefully you’ll get to enjoy some time watching these elegant travelers too before summer begins!

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

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

A Sora encounter at Huntington Beach State Park- why we go birding

It’s not often that I’ll post about the same species twice in one month but I was thrilled to get another look at a Sora this past weekend while birding at Huntington Beach State Park in SC.
The ones that I spotted a few weeks ago were mostly hidden in between a dark mass of reeds so seeing a Sora out in the open was super cool!
It’s funny to me that I’ve spent years looking for Soras and had never seen one until last month and now I’ve seen 4 in just the past couple weeks.
A lifer win.



Birding is a fun yet challenging thing.
The point of creating a list is to keep track of the date, location and numbers of various species that we see when out in the field.
Yet, the reasons why we do this may go deeper than a simple tally.
Some of us need a target to shoot for, it’s a numbers thing -an extension of the concept of “gamify everything”.
It can be a competitive mindset which drives us to want to be the number one lister in our county, state or country holding the record for rallying the highest number of birds per year.
Others relish the experience of traveling to far away strange places to see birds that we can’t see close to home.
It can be a need to SEE ALL THE BIRDS.
For some, birding is an escape from the stress of living in a world full of screens, social media, spreadsheets, a difficult home life and a 24hr sensationalized news cycle.
And yes, of course there are a zillion other reasons why we go birding.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that there is no wrong reason to go, rather it’s crucial that we heed the call to just go.
Breathe fresh air.
Feel sunlight on our faces.
Get lost.
Take photos.
Take notes.
See cool shit.
Learn and think about new things.



I’m grateful to be able to share my bird nerd stuff with you guys and I LOVE seeing all of your stories and photos too! There are some incredibly talented photographers out there.
I know I’m never alone even if I’m the only person out there for 50 miles who’s seeing a Sora for the very first time.
Glad you’re here for the ride 😉

So why do you go birding?
Leave a reply below 😉

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

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

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

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

Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

A Piping Plover encounter in Murrells Inlet, SC

By Sally Siko

Here’s a cute little bird that I was excited to add to my list, the Piping Plover!
I spotted him last week while on a birding trip to Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet South Carolina.
It was exciting to finally lay eyes on this charming little feathered gem for the first time. Watching him scramble up and down the beach on tiny legs moving at what appeared to be a zillion mph made me smile.



The Piping Plover is one of the few Federally listed birds in the Carolinas.
The Atlantic coast population is Federally Threatened, whereas the interior breeding population is Federally Endangered.
Interestingly, North Carolina is the only state on the Atlantic coast where the breeding range overlaps with the wintering range. Color-banding of birds on the breeding ground has shown that most of the birds that winter in NC are Atlantic coast birds; however, some wintering birds are from the interior population.
Thus, it is basically correct saying that the Piping Plover is Federally Threatened in North Carolina, but that some “Endangered” birds do spend the winter in the Tarheel State, as well.



Here in South Carolina, your best chance at spotting a Piping Plover is from late November through late February/ early March near the entrance onto the North Beach rock jetty.
They are easily distinguishable from a look alike species, the Semipalmated Plover by their characteristic light gray plumage.
Look for these small, gray and white birds dashing across the beach along the edge of the tide as they hunt for a meal of small invertebrates in the wet sand.
Aren’t they lovely?

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50MP monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

Birding Trips and Tours North Carolina

A Saltmarsh Sparrow at Huntington Beach State Park, SC

By Sally Siko

One of the birds I was excited to find last week while visiting Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina was this Saltmarsh Sparrow.
I’d never seen one before so it was awesome to finally see and photograph these cute little bird up close while sitting on the jetty.



One of the more interesting things I’ve learned about Saltmarsh Sparrows regards their unusual breeding system. Unlike most songbirds, the males do not defend territories, rather they move around large areas of a marsh, singing to attract females. Both sexes are promiscuous, and no pairs are formed; males take no part in caring for the eggs or young.



The range of a Saltmarsh Sparrow extends from Maine down to Florida on the east coast of the United States.
Here in the Carolinas they are best found in our coastal areas during the winter months.
They can be tough to spot though since they tend to hide in the tallest grass. That being said, they do respond well to pishing techniques and will occasionally pop out of the grass to offer a quick look before diving back down into the grass.
The best time to try and find one of these little feathered gems is during periods of high tide, when they are forced off of the mud flats to perch on the grass itself.

Generally I’m pleased with these first sighting photos but I’m eager to return to Huntington Beach State Park to lead my next tour there at the end of January.
Lol I guess I’m never satisfied so I’d like another crack at getting some better shots.

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my mighty 50MP monster, the @canonusa #5Ds

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