Tag Archives: south carolina birdwatching

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

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

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

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC

Seaside Sparrow sighting in Murrells Inlet SC

By Sally Siko

Though they’re not the flashiest of species, I always enjoy seeing Seaside Sparrows whenever I go birding along the coast.
With those long legs, these little guys are perfectly suited for a life hunting for a meal in and along the shallow marsh waters.



In North Carolina, it is found throughout the year in our coastal/tidal marshes, though they do seem to shift their habitat, preferences in the spring and winter months.
Because salt marshes tend have shifting tidal amplitudes, Seaside Sparrows avoid nesting in such sites.
Instead they choose to breed in brackish marshes, both along the coast and at locally around the inner portions of Pamlico Sound and the tidal creeks entering into it.
From fall to spring, birds move into richer salt marshes, though they also winter in brackish marshes as well.



Photographing Seaside Sparrows is moderately difficult task as they usually stay hidden in dense marsh grass.
There it will search for spiders, seeds, marine invertebrates and insects in the dirt and mud and on nearby plants.
I got in a few lucky shots when this one popped up from the reeds to look for a meal on the mudflats.
Isn’t he sweet?

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

Biridng Trips and Tours in SC

A Tricolored Heron in Murrells Inlet South Carolina

By Sally Siko

Whenever I travel to the coast to go birding, I’m always happy to catch a glimpse of a Tricolored Heron.
These guys are beautiful birds and are interesting to watch while hunting for a meal.



I found this one earlier this month while birding at Huntington Beach State Park, SC.
Head moving from side to side, he moved through the water slowly, scanning the surface like a cat stalking it’s prey. When the heron spotted a fish, he froze momentarily as he lined up his shot, then struck into the water like a dart.
I’d estimate his catch rate at about 70% which wasn’t bad considering most of the fish I’d seen were small minnows.



Though Tricolored Herons are a year round resident of North Carolina, they are technically a migratory species which tend to over winter here in lesser numbers than which are found during the summer.
They prefer to hunt and nest in salt and brackish water areas such as tidal marshes and mudflats found along our coastlines but Tricolored’s may also occasionally be spotted looking for a meal in freshwater environments (especially marshes & shallow ponds) in the inland areas of eastern part of the state.
One has even showed up earlier this month in the Raleigh area (central part of the state) which was pretty neat!

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

Birding Trips and Birdwatching Tours in SC, Field Notes

Wood Storks in Murrells Inlet SC

By Sally Siko

Of all the species of birds to be found at the Huntington Beach State Park in S.C., few capture the attention of visitors more than the Wood Stork.
In addition to their *ahem* unique appearance, these birds are incredibly interesting to watch hunting for a snack on the mudflats.



While observing this large flock in action, honestly it was tough to choose which bird to photograph at any given time.
With so much going on, I managed to photograph a nice series of pics of one trying to eat a Blue Crab which was pretty cool!The bird would hold the crab in its mouth and shake its head, crunching down on the crabs shell. One by one the crabs legs popped off until only the cephalothorax remained.Then the Stork swallowed the crab whole in one gulp without so much as a pinch of Old Bay seasoning or melted butter to wash it down with lol!



Wood Storks are best found in the eastern counties of the Carolinas from June through September. Our largest species of wader, they prefer to hunt for a meal in swamps, freshwater marshes and in shallow ponds.Wood Storks are very particular about the depth of water that they’ll hunt for a meal in.Preferring no more than a foot of water to rise up their legs, the flock actually waited until low tide before finally coming down from out of the trees to hunt in the rapidly draining marsh below.
Pretty neat, huh?

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

Field Notes, The Adventures of your bird watching Admin

A White Ibis at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC

While birding on a recent trip to Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet SC I spotted a handsome White Ibis preening up in a tree.
It was cold and overcast outside but it was neat to be able to grab a few portraits of this beautiful white bird set against the pale grey sky.



When they’re not spotted in the trees along the waters edge, Ibis’s are most often seen wading in shallow water sweeping their head form side-to-side in search of food. Using their long, curved bills to probe into the mud, they are on a constant hunt for crabs, crayfish and other small crustaceans. Once a meal is caught, they’ll swallow their prey whole which is rather impressive given that much of their prey has a hard shell or pincers.



Ibis’s are a year round resident of the Carolinas and are a relatively common sight feeding along the shorelines of our coastal marshes and estuaries.
You can also spot Ibises foraging for food on suburban lawns and mudflats hunting for insects, frogs, snails, marine worms, snakes, and even small fish swimming in shallow water ponds or creeks.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved beast, the mighty mirrorless @canonusa #r5