Birds I View SC

Christmas Count 2011

2012-01-02T20:21:00.000-05:00

December 31 2011, the Charleston Christmas Bird Count . Bill, Kathy and Lauren birding Laurel Hill Plantation near Mt Pleasant, South Carolina,.The weather was great. Duck count was low.

Dec 31, 2011 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Christmas Count.
47 species

Canada Goose 7
Wood Duck 7
Hooded Merganser 4
Pied-billed Grebe 10
Wood Stork 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron 1
White Ibis 5
Black Vulture 20
Turkey Vulture 25
Osprey 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 3
American Coot 1
Ring-billed Gull 2
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-bellied Woodpecker 5
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 5
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 120
Fish Crow 25
Carolina Chickadee 25
Tufted Titmouse 12
Brown-headed Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 5
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 25

Eastern Bluebird 5
American Robin 300
Gray Catbird 1
Northern Mockingbird 4
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 125
Savannah Sparrow 25
Song Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 30
Northern Cardinal 14
Red-winged Blackbird 35
Rusty Blackbird 15
Common Grackle 5
American Goldfinch 25

2011-12-06T17:10:00.001-05:00

A big surprise to see a Ruby-throateded Hummingbird in my yard this late in the year. I guess the warm weather is keeping him around or he's a late migrant.

Backyard Feeder observations

2011-11-08T20:03:00.001-05:00

Activity is picking up at my backyard feeder. Daily visitors include: a family of Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, Mockingbirds, House Finches, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped warblers, Northern Cardinals, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Mourning Doves, Carolina Chickadees, and Downy Woodpeckers. A small flock of Redwing Blackbirds stopped by for a few days and ate a lot of seed. I suspect my 2 pairs or Ruby-throated Humming birds may have flown south for the winter because I have not seen them for about 5 days and they are usually buzzing all around the yard when in residence. I haven’t had a lot of time to observe but hope to have more time to take notice of my winter visitors to the yard over the next few weeks.

2011-11-05T20:49:00.001-04:00

There was a lot of activity at the bird feeders in front of the Nature Center at Cypress Gardens early last Thursday morning. The usual birds for this time of year, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Downy Woodpeckers, Cardinals, and Mocking Birds. A flock of Yellow-Rump Warblers were working a Live Oak tree. Then I notice a little bird close to the trunk of a maple, it of course moved to the back of the tree. Was it a nuthatch? I waited and I am glad I did. A Brown Creeper! a bird I have only once before over 10 years ago seen at Cypress Gardens appeared . I watch the little bird move next to a Tupelo and then to a Bald Cypress before it flew out of sight. While searching for the Brown Creeper I had a close encounter with 2 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets feeding on some faded goldenrod, gleaning little insects no doubt.

The Swamp Hawk

2011-10-19T21:04:00.000-04:00

Red-Shouldered Hawks are common at Cypress Gardens. I often hear a pair calling while they hunt in the wooded swamp. Today one flew across the trail and landed near me. The bird paid me no mind as I took a few photos, I guess it was more interested in finding breakfast.

Gray Catbird

2011-10-05T19:28:00.000-04:00

After saying I'd never seen a Catbird in my yard this morning ...I first heard; then saw one in my backyard. Luckily I had my binoculars handy because as first I thought it was a Mockingbird. But the odd sounding call made me take a second look. The Catbird was very interested in the suet on my pole feeder. Hope to see him and other newcomers to my backyard habitat this fall and winter.

August Hummingbirds

2011-08-13T16:32:00.001-04:00

This feeder is right outside our screened porch and I was able to shoot this photo with the door open just enough for the camera lens to fit, using my telephoto lens and a quick shutter setting.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

2011-07-04T10:24:00.002-04:00

I had Downey woodpeckers in the spring, now Red-bellied woodpeckers are showing up daily at our seed cake feeder. If things continue as every other summer the Redheaded woodpecker should show up in Aug-Sept. for a month or two.

Killdeer pair

2011-06-17T12:27:00.003-04:00

I Saw the Killdeer again last night at the H.E.N. project field in Moncks Corner. This time I also saw the female sitting on her nest of 4 eggs. This pair was really brave to build a nest in this spot and to keep it there. A wire enclosure was installed around the nest to let those maintaining a planting bed at the “Hunger Ends Now” project that the nest was there. Daddy Killdeer did a good job of protecting the nesting site by acting injured and trying to lure people away from his mate and the eggs.

Ruby throated Himmingbird

2011-06-12T18:50:00.005-04:00

I haven't seen my 2 pairs of hummingbirds as often as usual this year. But every time I think they are gone for the summer I spy one. They aren't at the feeder but visiting flowers. I'm guessing there are plenty of flowers so they don't need the feeders as often.

Killdeer in Moncks Corner

2011-06-10T09:35:00.004-04:00

I was attending a Clemson Extension Master Gardeners and H.E.N. Project’s FREE vegetable gardening classes for families this summer at the H.E.N. Community Garden located in downtown Moncks Corner when I spotted this Killdeer. He was getting ready to take a bath in a puddle made from watering the garden and was warning me to stay away. Using my telephoto lens I was able to get a couple of photos before he took off. I've seen this bird at roadsides but never had my camera handy to capture a picture.

2011-06-08T19:13:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I’m so busy caring for my garden I forget to enjoy it…but tonight it was so nice with temperatures in the mid-80’s and a nice cool breeze I decided to spend some time after dinner on the garden swing admiring the flowers and watching the birds. My two Labs Maggie and Lucy and several birds including House Finches, Grackles, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, and Eastern Bluebird joined me. A Mockingbird also stopped by to pick a blueberry and fly off. Luckily I planted the blueberries in my yard for fruit loving birds when I was planned my garden to provide food for wildlife and not to consume myself. If the birds don’t find the berries I harvest them. I hope you take sometime to enjoy your wildlife garden and all it attracts this time of year!

Blue Jays

2011-05-20T07:32:00.004-04:00

Blue jays are not an uncommon bird but like the mockingbird I seldom see blue jays in my yard. So I was surprised to see one at my advanced pole system feeder and perching on my fence several times yesterday. I suspect they may have a nest near by.

Blue jays are large and often gregarious birds! Some people love them and some people love to hate them! Jays, who have a habit of "planting" seeds and acorns, are actually very beneficial and are responsible for many of the trees and forests we have.

There are many jays in North America including the scrub jay, found in the west, the steller's and pinyon jays found in the western mountains, and the well-known eastern blue jay. No matter where you live, there is a good chance you will have a visit from one of these beautiful blue birds! Most jays live year round in their chosen territory, except for the eastern blue jay, which moves slightly northward during the breeding season.

Today, you can find jays in just about any habitat from deep forests to suburban gardens. They do, however prefer oak woodlands.
If you are one of those who love to see these birds here are some things to know:

1.The powerful, all-purpose bill of most jays efficiently handles a varied diet. Most of their diet is vegetable, but they also eat some insects. Their most important natural food source is acorns. They will also feed on berries such as elderberries, cherries and dogwood.
2. Peanuts! Let's face it; most of you know that if you put out whole, raw peanuts, they will draw the jays in your area like a magnet! Offer on a flat tray feeder or on the ground.
3. Plant an oak tree! This will not only attract jays but many other birds that rely on this popular tree for food.
4. Jays also enjoy whole or shelled black-oil and striped sunflower seeds. Jays are large birds and prefer platform feeders with plenty of perching space.
5. Jay’s construct large, open shelf nests. They prefer sticks and twigs for nesting materials. Since building a nest can take hundreds of trips, offer a pile of sticks and twigs nearby to help them out!
6. They love suet if they can get to it!
7. Provide a water source for drinking and bathing. The large jays are fun to watch displacing lots of water in your birdbath!

2011-05-16T19:15:00.007-04:00

Every second Friday of the month there is a bird walk at Lighthouse Inlet Preserve on the north end of Folly Island at 8:30 am lead by naturalist from Charleston County Parks go to this site to sign up. http://www.ccprc.com/.
On the way there we spotted shore birds on the mudflats along Folly Road,near Peas Island. 3 Black-belliedPlovers,100+Semipalmated Plovers,50 Peeps,45 Dunlin, 2 Whimbrel
Location: Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve
Observation date: 5/13/11
Number of species: 37

Wood Stork 5
Double-crested Cormorant 30
Brown Pelican 75
Great Egret 3
Snowy Egret 1
Tricolored Heron 1
Clapper Rail 10
Black-bellied Plover 2
Wilson's Plover 2
American Oystercatcher 1
Whimbrel 2
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Red Knot 30
Sanderling 1
Laughing Gull 6
Ring-billed Gull 3
Herring Gull (American) 2
Least Tern 2
Royal Tern 30
Sandwich Tern 10
Black Skimmer 2
Eurasian Collared-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 6
Fish Crow 3
Barn Swallow 6
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 2
Carolina Wren 3
Northern Mockingbird 7
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Cardinal 8
Painted Bunting 5
Red-winged Blackbird 9
Common Grackle 12
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
House Finch 8
House Sparrow 5

Carolina Chickadee's

2011-05-11T12:50:00.005-04:00

In December 2010 I received this birdhouse as a door prize at a Master Gardener Christmas meeting/party. In February I hung it in a red maple tree in my backyard. It became the fourth birdhouse in my yard. Every spring I check the boxes occasionally for activity but usually only have bluebirds build in any of them. To my surprise while checking this one several weeks ago I saw a Chickadee inside! About a week later when I checked the box I saw little heads pop up wanting to be fed. It was hard to get a photo because the box doesn’t open like my bluebird box but I did get one out of focus shot before they left the nest. Today I removed the bottom of the box, took out the nest, and replace the nest box in the maple tree. Who knows maybe I’ll get another birds family!

Busy Bluebird

2011-05-06T14:21:00.002-04:00

I caught this video clip of our female Bluebird feeding her babies while I was dead heading flowers in the garden.

Hummingbirds return!

2011-04-28T12:23:00.001-04:00

I put my feeder out early in April but had not seen a hummingbird in my yard. My husband told me he had seen one last week but I still had not seen one of these incredible little birds myself until today. I’d been changing the nectar for them hoping I was just missing them and I guess I was. If you haven't done so already, it's time to get those hummingbird feeders out, clean them, fill them with fresh sugar water and hang them where the little green iridescent flying jewels will find them.
The ruby-throat hummingbird is the only hummingbird that breeds and nests in South Carolina. They arrive around March 17 from who knows where to spend the summer rearing another brood with us and then disappear around Oct. 15 for warmer weather.
The ideal backyard haven for hummingbirds can be accomplished in two ways: 1) plant and maintain a natural wildflower or cultivated flower garden with plants providing nectar to hummingbirds; or 2) place artificial feeders out filled with sugar water or commercially-prepared nectar solution. Most people try for a combination of the both methods.
Nectar for artificial feeders should consist of a four-to-one solution of water and granulated white sugar. This solution should be boiled for a couple of minutes in order for the sugar to dissolve completely, and retard growth of microorganisms. Excess solution can safely be stored in the refrigerator for about a week. Nectar solution need not be artificially colored red. Most feeders have bright colors, which attract hummingbirds, and once they discover where a hummingbird feeder is, they don’t need to be reminded of its whereabouts. Hummingbirds will return year after year to the same feeders.

Backyard Bluebird watch

2011-04-27T11:17:00.003-04:00

We have hungry bluebird babies. You can hear them cheeping for mom and dad when they are hungry. I also have some Chickadees in another nest box but it doesn't have easy access for me to photograph.

Birding Kiawah Beach

2011-04-23T15:39:00.006-04:00

Location: Beachwalker Park
Observation date: 4/21/11
Number of species: 29

Brown Pelican 12
Great Egret (American) 4
Tricolored Heron 2
Reddish Egret 1
Black Vulture 3
Black-bellied Plover 6
Wilson's Plover 8
Semipalmated Plover 150
Piping Plover 7
American Oystercatcher 75
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Willet 24
Willet (Eastern) 24
Whimbrel 12
Marbled Godwit 6
Ruddy Turnstone 21
Sanderling 55
Semipalmated Sandpiper 60
Dunlin 80
Short-billed Dowitcher 22
Laughing Gull 9
Ring-billed Gull 2
Herring Gull (American) 3
Least Tern 30
Gull-billed Tern 2
Forster's Tern 3
Royal Tern 2
Black Skimmer 76
Fish Crow 3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Bluebirds in my yard

2011-04-09T21:29:00.004-04:00

The Bluebirds have built a nest and have 5 eggs in one of my backyard nest boxes. They love the mealworms I put out twice a day. Even though Eastern Bluebirds don’t often visit feeders, the pair in my yard will visit the feeder filled with sunflower chips. I’ve always had good luck with the birds using nest boxes in my yard here in SC and in my GA yard as well. You too may have bluebirds in your yard if you have the space to put up a nest box, and if your yard isn’t too hemmed in by trees or houses.

American Goldfinch

2011-04-09T21:16:00.001-04:00

American Goldfinch is a frequent visitor to my yard in the winter months. It is not uncommon to see 30 in the backyard in January – February. In March the number decrease and by mid- to late April they are totally gone. I know it is time for them to leave about the time the male sheds his dull winter color for the bright yellow of mating season. They leave the heat and humidity of the coast for the midlands, upstate or northern parts as far north as southern Canada. The backyard birder can attract the American Goldfinch by offering Nyjer thistle seed in birdfeeders, or by planting grasses or flowers that produce seed heads such as zinnias, cosmos and globe thistles.

Hummers and warblers in the swamp

2011-03-28T20:34:00.003-04:00

On the way to Cypress Gardens I saw a small flock of cattle egret near Goose Creek, on 3/24/11. At the gardens I saw a Ruby-throated Hummingbird - both the first of these birds I have seen this year. All so the Prothonotary warblers have returned -I can hear them in the swamp but I have yet to get a good look at one. The Parula warblers are everywhere singing and are not at all shy. There is usually one sing in the live oak tree over the boat dock at Cypress Gardens.

Art and Flower Show

2011-03-06T20:55:00.002-05:00

Looks like the weather will be great this week at Cypress Gardens. Come enjoy the spring flowers and spring migration.

The Berkeley Area Gardens Clubs will present the 4th annual Breath of Spring Flower Show at Cypress Gardens March 9-11, 2011. The Theme for the show is “The Magic of Movies” The show will feature daffodils, camellias and floral designs inspired by movie titles. A number of movies have been made at Cypress Gardens including “The Patriot” ,”Swamp Thing” ,“The Notebook” and “North and South”.
The public may enter blooming cut flowers, shrubs and potted plants on Tuesday March 8 from 8 a.m to 11a.m. Please see the rules for entering and other information at https://sites.google.com/site/ourflowershow/ .

The show will open to the public from 10-4 on Wednesday and Thursday and 9-2 on Friday.

Berkeley Art Guild will have a show featuring watercolors, acrylics and oil painting March 7- 11. the event will be located in the Cottage behind the gift shop. Open 10-4 daily.

Year memberships pass are now available in the gift shop.

Both shows are included in the regular admission to Cypress Gardens. $10 adults, $9 seniors ,$5 children , www.cypressgardens.info or 553-0515. 3030 Cypress Gardens Rd. Moncks Corner SC 29460

Purple Finch in my yard

2011-02-26T08:39:00.002-05:00

This morning when I went to fill my feeders I noticed a bird I hadn't seen in my yard since leaving Georgia...a Purple Finch. I hope to see this winter visitor a few more times before he moves away for the summer.

Audubon Swamp Garden

2011-02-25T13:20:00.005-05:00

I went to Magnolia Plantation & gardens yesterday and visited the swamp garden before I left. It was wonderful to see Great Blue Herons nesting as well as Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, white Ibis, and several varieties of ducks. I saw several perching birds but could only photograph a couple. I saw Yellow-rumped Warbler, Robins, Red-wing Blackbirds, Mockingbirds,Carolina Wrens and Gray Catbirds.

Great Backyard Bird Count

2011-02-22T11:07:00.004-05:00

I only counted 20 species this year but had a Sharped-shinned Hawk and a Bald Eagle to report this year!nowy Egret - 1
Bald Eagle- 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Mourning Dove - 5
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Carolina Chickadee - 1
Tufted Titmouse - 1
Brown-headed Nuthatch - 2
Carolina Wren - 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2
Eastern Bluebird - 2
American Robin - 2
Northern Mockingbird - 1
Brown Thrasher - 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3
Pine Warbler - 5
Chipping Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 2
Red-winged Blackbird - 10
House Finch - 6

Birding Bear Island

2011-02-20T20:28:00.001-05:00

February 19, 2011, We went birding at the Bear Island Wildlife Management Area located about an hour's drive south of Charleston SC near Green Pond. From US 17 take Bennetts Point Rd. south. The road has few travelers and is very scenic. Drive slowly through the hardwoods and look for turkeys. We saw about 25 crossing the road. There were 2 large gobblers in the flock. There are several open areas with views of the water. We saw Coots, Moorhens and Blue-winged Teal along the road. There is so little traffic, I never hesitate stop in the road. The sky was clear and we saw plenty of Turkey Vultures. A couple of Black Vultures were dining on a dead armadillo. Also in the sky we saw 3 wood storks. Look for a wildlife observation tower on your right. This is the best place to see Tundra Swans. We were in luck today. We saw 3 very close by, but most were far out in the marsh. There is a stand of mature pines across the road. We found Chickadees, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Cardinals, Bluebirds, Blue Jays and Brown Headed Nuthatches. I heard the trill of Pine Warblers and saw one while I was watching a Bluebird in a popcorn tree. The warbler was on a pine branch in the background. Next we went down the road to Ti Ti Road. The tide was going out, so the water was a little high, but we could see a few wading birds – Yellowlegs both greater and lesser. We parked at the check station and walked out on the dike to the north. Ibis,Yellowlegs, Tricolored Heron, Great Egret and an alligator. I saw a large flock of black and white birds back towards Bennetts Road, so we went back to the first parking area. A couple from Davidson had a scope set up on American Avocets. I counted 53. We drove north on TiTi Rd. We stopped at one of the many impoundments and walked out on a dike. The reeds were tall and good cover. Small flocks of Rudy ducks came very close to me. A Northern Harrier was working the area and flushed up Green Winged Teals, Redwinged Blackbirds' and more Yellowlegs. Coots were everywhere. The old name for the Harrier was marsh hawk -a name well suited for the bird here as I often see it gliding low over the marshes. We drove back to Bennett's Point Rd and I saw a Shrike on the power line and there were plenty of Bluebirds too. We drove south to the tiny village of Bennetts Point to the marina and picked up drinks and chips. I looked for pelicans and gulls on the Edisto river at the , but there were none. So we drove north to the Fishing pond on the west side of the road. There we saw a few Pied-billed Grebes and some Little Blue Herons. We continued north and stopped to look at the Tundra Swans before returning home. We saw a total of 51 Species of birds.

Birding Event

2011-02-15T21:51:00.002-05:00

The Santee Birding and Nature Festival will be April 29-May 1, 2011.
Many of the bird walks are free! Last time I did the Cuddo Unit and we saw many field and forest birds this year I hope to bird the Pine Island /Dingle Pond unit of the Santee Wildlife Refuge. Check out the event website https://2011santeebnf.theregistrationsystem.com/en/registration/index/886 .

A closer Look

2011-02-08T15:58:00.001-05:00

I’ve tried to find way to lure birds closer so I can get better photos. Our dogs did not scare off this pine warbler. Unfortunately our puppy Maggie had developed a taste for birds seed so it is hard to keep seed on this stump to lure in the birds!

February Event

2011-02-07T13:29:00.005-05:00

2011-02-07T13:26:00.000-05:00

Mrs. Downy Moves In

2011-01-30T17:43:00.004-05:00

Earlier today I was hanging clothes on the line in the backyard. I noticed the birdhouse near the line had some damage, it looked like someone was trying to make the hole bigger. Later when I went to bring the clothes in I notice a female Downy woodpecker watching me from the birdhouse. I went back to the house and grabbed my camera and took this photo. In the past I have had Bluebirds and Chickadees in this house.

Birding Santee NWR

2011-01-26T21:48:00.002-05:00

On Saturday January 22, 2011, my husband Bill and I went with the Charleston Audubon Society to the Santee Wildlife Refuge. The friendly staff put us in a large van and took us to the Bluff area IBA. This area is normally closed to the public this time of the year. The staff explained that the birds are very skittish because of nearby hunting and we could hear gun fire often. On the first stop along the north shore of Lake Marion, we saw a raft of ducks. There were many Lesser and a few Greater Scaup. In the group were Redheads and Ring-Necked ducks. Double-Crested Cormorant in good numbers were scattered about. From a great distance, there appeared to be a Peregrine Falcon diving on some ducks. We also saw a Killdeer on the beach and a Osprey, Bald Eagle and a Ring Billed Gull flew over. In a near by pine tree we saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet. We entered the Bluff area and stopped in the woods just before a big field . From the edge of the field, we could see a flock of about 35 Sandhill Cranes. With the telescopes we could see Greater White Fronted Geese, (3) many Canada Geese and a few smaller Crackling geese. Two Northern Harriers were active over the field, and Goldfinches often bounced by in large flocks. Nearby, a Ruby-crown Kinglet was so close that binoculars were useless. We all got a good look at red top feathers. Next we followed trail to the Observation tower. The wind was cold and bitter but we could see an American Kestrel hunting near an old corn field. Doves and black birds were also seen. We went back to the van and checked the field again. To our surprise, there were 2 young Bald eagles standing in the field and one was eating something . We spent some time in the van circling the bluff fields and impoundments. Many ducks were flushed up by our approach, Wood Ducks, mallards and one Hooded Merganser in a ditch by the road. We watched a Hermit thrush hunt along a weedy ditch and Phoebes were common. We saw a young Sapsucker in a nearby tree. Meadowlarks could be seen on short fields. I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk in a tree. Harriers were often seen over the fields. A Coopers hawk was also spotted flying off. We stopped and looked at ducks and geese on Cantay Bay. Smaller size geese could be seen. Cardinals and sparrows were feeding on the muddy beach area which seamed odd and a Kingfisher sat on a snag. By 1:30 we headed back to the visitor center for lunch. We saw a total of 64 species.

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Christmas Count

2011-01-10T12:41:00.003-05:00

On Sunday January 2, 2011, I participated Charleston Christmas Bird Count with members of the local Audubon Society. I and two other lady birders where given a territory in Mt.Pleasant Sc. Laurel Hill Plantation, Park West and Dunes West and along the Wando River. We saw 59 species of birds but we missed a few we should have seen like White-breasted and Brown-headed Nuthatches and Pine Warblers. The weather was cloudy, cool and occasional light rain. We birded from 7:30am to about 2 pm. I really enjoyed seeing the waterfowl on the lake at Laurel Hill and I am glad we had a scope so we could identify all the ducks and grebes. There was good habitat for Sparrows both short and tall weedy grass but we saw very few. There were no surprises or rare birds. I turned in our check list so here is a list I did from memory.

Common Loon 1
PB Grebe 15
DC Cormorant 20
Anhinga 3
GB Heron 6
Great Egret 3
Snowy egret 3
Little Blue heron 6
Tricolored Heron 2
White ibis 15
Black Vulture 25
Turkey Vultures 20
Canada Geese 6
Wood duck 20
Am. Wigeon 20
Mallard 36
Bufflehead 15
Hooded Mergansers 25
Ruddy Duck 20
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 1
Coopers Hawk 2
Red Shouldered Hawk 16
Red-Tailed Hawk 2
Common Moorhen 3
Killdeer 1
Ring-billed Gull 6
Herring Gull 3
Rock Pigeon 26
Belted Kingfisher 4
Red-bellied woodpecker 27
Yellow-bellied sapsucker 4
Downy WP 1
Hairy WP 1
N. Flicker 3
Pileated WP 9
E. Phoebe 2
Blue Headed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 21
A.Crow 30
Fish Crow 5
C. Chickadee 45
Tufted titmice 25
Carolina wren 10
Golden Crowned Kinglet 15
E. Bluebird 2
Hermit Thrush 1
N. Mocking Bird 4
European Starling 25
Cedar Waxwings 32
Yellow rumped warblers 75
Common Yellow Throat W 1
Chipping Sparrow 3
Swamp sparrow 8
N. Cardinal 20
Red Winged Blackbirds 25
Rusty blackbird 3
C. Grackle 15
Brown headed Cowbird 20
Am. Goldfinch 60

Cold Weather & birds

2010-12-15T18:41:00.001-05:00

The unusually cold weather here in Charleston has brought a lot of activity to our bird feeders this week. I managed to get just a couple of pictures today of the Bluebirds and the Downy woodpeckers. Sighted but not photographed: Brown Thrashers, Brown–headed Nuthatches, Pine Warblers, Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warbler, House Finches, Northern Cardinals, Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Mourning Doves. The heated birdbath is also a great place to observe the birds. All my other birdbaths were frozen all day.

Water in Winter

2010-12-11T12:32:00.002-05:00

I keep a heated birdbath in the yard and during the freezing weather of the last week it has been a popular spot for my winter birds to visit. They will wait in the trees to take turns. I captured just a few with the camera but I've seen Mockingbirds, Bluebirds, House Finches, Cardinals, Chickadees, Yellow-rumped warblers to name a few.

November Birding -James Island & Folly Island SC

2010-11-28T09:43:00.007-05:00

The James Island Birding Club took a field trip Saturday Nov.13 . We started the morning heading to the Bird Banding station on North Folly Beach. The weather was great but the clear sky may have allowed the birds to see the mist nets so very few birds where banded that day. We where there about an hour and only saw 2 birds in hand , a hermit thrush and a very late white eyed vireo.Chris reports : . Of the interesting retraps one
bird was caught twice today - a Gray Catbird originally banded in
October, 2009, a Song Sparrow from October, 2008 and a Yellow-rumped
Warbler from November 2008. The full list was :

Swamp Sparrow 1
Hermit Thrush 4
Gray Catbird 1 (3)
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (1)
White-eyed Vireo 1
Northern Cardinal (1)
Song Sparrow (1)
House Wren (1)

Other birds we saw in the area, brown pelicans, cormorants, boat tails grackles, C. chickadees, Carolina and house wrens, grey catbirds, ring neck doves, starlings, house finches, cardinals. The big surprise was a bobcat, his legs looked a little wet perhaps he had been hunting in the salt marsh.
Next we travel north on Folly Rd.and stopped at the mud flats near Pea Island - a few semi palmated plovers and some willets ,black bellied plovers, dowitchers and peeps. Next we ventured down Sol Legare Rd and made a quick stop at Mosquito beach and saw some oyster catchers on the mud flats. Next we drove further west on Sol Legare Rd to a rookery on the left just past Island Retreat. 17 woodstorks and 50 +black crown night herons , 25 white ibis also seen in the area , great blue heron, little blue heron. snowy egret, blue birds,goldfinches and house wren, butter butts(yellow rump warblers) and we heard some clapper rails.Earlier in the day before we meet up Trish saw some mallards and I saw 7 Hooded mergansers on a marsh creek on Batter Island Rd. The last stop was the Waffle house were we compiled a list of about 35 species for that morning.
View Wood Stork Rookery in a larger map

Birds @ Magnolia Plantation

2010-10-23T19:36:00.003-04:00

I took my son and daughter-in-law to Magnolia plantation and the Audubon Swamp Garden on Oct. 11,2010. We saw a Great Egret during a walk through the plantation. We also walked in the Audubon Swamp Garden and even though we saw gators and turtles we weren't seeing birds. We could hear a lot of songbirds we were almost to the end of the walk before we saw some of the big birds. Then we spotted a Great Blue Heron, White Ibis and Green Heron.

Bald Eagles in Hanahan

2010-10-21T16:07:00.001-04:00

A pair of Bald Eagles has been hanging around our neighborhood for the last few weeks. This afternoon they were spending a lot of time over the yard and I happened to have my camera but not my tripod. So the shots aren’t great but you can see they are Bald Eagles.

Great Egret in the yard

2010-10-20T17:11:00.002-04:00

A Great Egret has been hanging around our yard the last two days. Not sure if he is interested in our 4 pond fish, attracted by our water or feeders. I really hope it isn't the fish...my grandchildren picked out 3 of the 4 fish on their last visit!

Fall Garden Birds

2010-10-13T09:14:00.002-04:00

It’s been a while since I’ve seen two different woodpeckers in my yard at the same time. But this morning there is a lot of activity in the yard and I spotted a Red bellied and a Downey woodpecker. We are starting to see more groups of birds now in the yard not just pairs.

Migration time

2010-10-11T19:13:00.001-04:00

For some reason I only see Redwing Blackbirds in my yard during migration and today heard them first before seeing several blackbirds in the yard this morning. Twice a year I will have a flock of Redwing Blackbirds visit my backyard for about a week. I always enjoy their visit to my yard.

The High Tide of Catbirds

2010-10-09T15:39:00.005-04:00

I had the morning free and with a late start I headed to Folly Beach. Very foggy and the tide was very high - so no shore birds in the mudflat on the way to the beach. At the banding station we had to wade through knee high salt marsh to reach some of the mist nets due to the high tide. Chris S. sent this report on the morning bird banding session.--

A Foggy start to the morning with a dense sea fog rolling in off the sea at dawn. This made for an interesting mornings banding when combined with the new moon high tide at 1015.

We caught 45 new birds of 14 species, 3 retraps of 2 species and 1 same day retrap. This catch included 3 FOS species: Eastern Wood Pewee, Swainson's Thrush and Veery. Of the retraps the Catbird was from last Saturday(10/02), one wren was form 15th August lst year and the other the 4th of last month. The full list was:

Common Yellowthroat 7 (1 SDR)
Grey Catbird 21(1)
American Redstart 2
Yellow-breasted Chat 3
White-eyed Vireo 2
Black-and-white Warbler 2
Eastern Wood Pewee 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Ovenbird 1
House Wren 1
Swainson's Thrush 1
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Veery 1
Palm Warbler 1
Carolina Wren (2)

In 45.37 net hours we caught 45 new birds for a catch rate of 99 birds/hundred net hours. Thanks for your help. Banding sessions will be on Wedensday and Saturday
this week. Chris

Bird Banding at Folly Island Sc, USA

2010-10-02T20:19:00.006-04:00

I went down to North Folly Beach to if Chris was banding birds, I thought the cold front last night would bring in some interesting birds - sure enough the crew was there with bags of birds. Chris sent me this report. --

A good morning was had despite the marginally acceptable winds that instead of decreasing around dawn backed to the North and increased throughout the morning. This meant that some nets were closed early as they were too exposed to the wind. Despite this a good catch of 71 birds 14 species were banded, no retraps were caught and one bird (a big surprise) a Green Heron, was released with out a band - I didn't have one big enough.

Most of the catch consisted of Gray Catbirds, Palm Warblers and Common Yellowthroats (65%) with a nice sprinkling of other species. The most intriguing was the Empidonax Flycatcher, which after many measurements came out to be a Willow Flycatcher based on the wing chord, p6-p10 and p9-p5 measurements in Pyle. This was confirmed by the R-formula. Other species of note were Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll
Warbler and Summer Tanager. The complete list is below:

Gray Catbird 16
Palm Warbler 17
Pine Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 13
Cape May Warbler 2
Northern Parula 2
American Redstart 8
Magnolia Warbler 2
Blackpoll Warbler 4
Summer Tanager 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Black-and White Warbler 1
Carolina Chickadee 1
Willow Flycatcher 1
Green Heron (released unbanded).

Thanks for the help and my next banding session will be on Wedensday,
weather permitting. Chris

Bird Watching at Cypress Gardens

2010-08-23T12:57:00.004-04:00

A swamp Dogwood near the Butterfly house was providing a lot of food to a lot of birds last week. Here are just a few birds I saw. These are the best photos. Lightening was a bit of an issue and I had to shoot through the branches. I was happy to get the few decent photos! Play the short video to see the birds.

Ruby throated Hummingbird

2010-08-16T13:30:00.002-04:00

Watching songbirds in the backyard is pretty easy right now. Multiples of Ruby throated humming birds, Northern Cardinals, Grackles, Eastern Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens and Chickadees, Brown Thrashers, American Robins, Downey Woodpecker, Red headed Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Brown headed Nuthatch, and Pine Warblers are frequent visitors but not easy to photograph especially when a hawk decides to perch in a pine tree overlooking my yard. But over the weekend was able to capture this female Ruby throated Hummingbird.

Copahee Sound Birding

2010-08-15T09:59:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday August 10,2010, I had a Soil & Water District meeting in Awendaw SC. So I left a little early to go birding on Seafood Road located off Gadsdenville Rd. between Mt. Pleasant and Awendaw . Seafood Rd runs along the Marsh and has a great view to the east of Copahee Sound. I arrived about 11 am and the tide was high but on the way out. The first bird I saw was a Spotted Sandpiper bobbing it’s head and wagging it’s tail. As it moved further out the creek 4 Semipalmated Plovers flushed up. A Great Blue Heron and a Green Heron where sharing a dead tree out in the marsh. With my binoculars I notice a flock of dark ibis (20) the way the sun reflected off their back gave them a pink glow. Could they be glossy ibis? There were no white ibis in the group and their colors were very uniform -no mottled dark and white like many of the immature ibis that I have seen lately.
From a barrier island to the east a Woodstork came fling over the marsh and headed for the woods to the west. Across the marsh to the east 2 osprey were flying along the intra-coastal waterway. Sitting close to the road on a small hammock was a pair of Turkey Vultures not something you would expect to find in a salt water marsh. As I drove north I could hear clapper rails and a few swallows flew over. I have never seen another car on this road so birding from the car is not a problem. Other birds I saw were Snowy Egret 1, Great Egret, Laughing Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Little Blue Herons, and in the woods I heard Carolina Chickadees. To find this great birding location take US 17 north from MT.Pleasant SC, Look for a brown sign for Copahee Sound Boat Landing on the right.

More on my Backyard Bluebirds

2010-08-03T12:15:00.001-04:00

I took this photo 2 days before all the babies left the nest. I saw #4 leave the nest box on July 22nd. Unfortunately I found feathers from one baby in the yard 2 days later. It looked like the work of a hawk or similar bird.

Return of the Shorebirds

2010-08-02T22:37:00.002-04:00

July 31, 2010.
I went to one of my favorite birding spots here in the South Carolina lowcountry, the mudflats along Folly Road just north of Peas Island. At 9 a.m. the tide had just gone out and it look like just a Laughing Gull and a Immature Little Blue Heron, but shore birds can so easily blend in to the color of the mud, With binoculars I was amazed to see a large flock of Shorebirds, 100 + semipalmated plovers, 20+ Whimbrels, 10+ Willets, and many Least sandpipers, 10+ immature Little Blue Herons, 2 adult Little Blue herons, 1 Tricolor Heron, and some ibis. Clapper rails could also be heard.
This mud flat can be a real hit or miss, when the tide is all the way out there can be nothing, 1 hour before or after high tide there can be hundreds of birds. The tide pushes the birds closer to the road so they can be easily seen from the road in a car. It is always a great place to check during spring and fall migration and many birds spend the winter here. I check this spot several times in June but only saw a few Willets and gulls. I have read that sandpiper spend very little time on their nesting grounds in the far north and head south as soon as nesting is over and some male birds head back before the eggs hatch. Kathy

Bluebird watch

2010-07-10T15:59:00.002-04:00

Four Baby bluebirds in our backyard nest box on July 10,2010. They are keeping mom and dad very busy!

Another Kite

2010-07-01T21:28:00.000-04:00

July 27,2010. I had just stepped out of my car on Sunday afternoon with a bag of groceries in each hand, when I heard high pitched pete tweet from a bird. I took a few more steps and thought “I have never heard that before” then I heard it again , I dropped my groceries and headed for the street and looked south west over the trees. Soaring not for off was a very falcon like bird. I grabbed the binoculars from the car as the bird went behind the trees. Soon it circled back; it had sharp pointed wings, long narrow tail and wings bent at the elbows. The sun was overhead and the bird looked very dark with no patterns that I could make out except for light colored secondary wing feathers. Could this be an other Mississippi Kite? As I watched a second bird came in to sight – an osprey flying from left to right, this bird is a local and has a nest on a nearby cell phone tower (the direction bird was heading by the way). The kite which was flying a little bit higher now turned and dove down on the much larger osprey. I could not tell if the kite hit the osprey but the osprey went on about its business. The kite rose up higher and went off in the opposite direction.

Mississippi Kite

2010-06-23T22:19:00.003-04:00

I have been a bird watcher for many years and I have rarely seen Mississippi kites but this year I have had 4 siting this year. One at the late Ona Whites house in West Ashley of Charleston near the end of 526 on 5/5/10 . One driving down a road somewhere I can’t recall where just now but it was a few weeks ago. My latest kite encounter is in a rather odd place. This week I have a volunteer community worker at Cypress Gardens. Sarah has no car so I offered to give her a lift; she lives in a mobile home community in the northern part of Goose Creek SC.SC

Tuesday morning at about 7:30 (6/23/10) while sitting in my car, waiting for Sarah , I saw a crow size bird fly out of a near by tree and across the street in to a tall sweet gum tree. Unlike a crow this bird flew effortless and graceful. I new it was a kite before it landed. I grabbed my binoculars off the back seat and saw the adult kite setting in the morning sun. After a few minutes it took off and soared around over the street and off to the west. This morning as I pulled my car on to Flintlock Lane. and I saw the bird sitting in the same sweet gum tree. I had my little Kodak camera ready but the bird took off and soared around the area. I got a few photos. This seems like such and odd place to see this bird, but there is a small creek running through the neighborhood and there are plenty of older trees and open spaces.

Baby Birds

2010-06-17T10:42:00.003-04:00

New baby birds are now out and about with their parents this June. So far I've spotted Northern Cardinal, House Finch and European Starling fledglings in my backyard. There also seems to be a larger number of Tufted Titmouse flying around so I'm guessing that some of them are fledglings too. Watching parents look after and feed their little fledglings truly helps indicate how proud they are of their new babies.

Northern Cardinals

2010-06-07T23:46:00.002-04:00

We are seeing less of the Bluebirds in our yard this year but have many Northern Cardinals. A pair are bringing their young to the yard to feed. The young birds are pretty brave now. I was able to take these photos while I was sitting on the swing June 5, 2010

Birds at Middleton Plantation

2010-06-06T15:46:00.003-04:00

Green Heron
Blue Heron

Anhinga

Just a few of the birds we saw while visiting Middleton Plantation.

Wood Storks over Cypress

2010-05-26T18:33:00.002-04:00

Today we spotted 7 wood storks soaring over Cypress Garden, they were flying with Black and Turkey vultures. Apparently they were getting warm air lift off the parking lot.

Wild Birds Shun Organic Food

2010-05-22T16:00:00.001-04:00

Wild Birds Shun Organic Food

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Wood Stork

2010-05-11T10:24:00.002-04:00

My husband and I spotted this Wood Stork at the top of a tree on a morning walk along a Nature Trail @ Caw Caw County Park in Charleston.

Hummingbirds in the yard

2010-05-03T09:00:00.002-04:00

This was the first time I saw the Female and Male Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in my yard at the same time. It was like the male was keeping watch while the female had a drink.

Donnelly Wildlife Management Area

2010-05-03T08:56:00.004-04:00

We rode our motorcycle to the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area Saturday and saw a lot of birds and alligators. It was harder getting photos of the birds but got this one. I think it is a Tree Swallow, at least some kind of swallow.

Wren Nest

2010-05-02T07:20:00.005-04:00

My sister gave me a Brinno Bird Cam for Christmas. I have set it up on a tripod in front of feeders and bird houses around the yard. I got this Carolina Wren shot while visiting my mother in Virgina. A Carolina wren pair had built a nest in an overturned vase on her back porch. The opening faced the window so we could see the wrens carrying bugs in th the nest.I was amazed at how many insects, caterpillars and spiders these birds eat.

Brown-headed Nuthatch

2010-04-27T20:39:00.002-04:00

This little bird and mate are frequent visitors to my yard and feeders. One of the more friendly...letting me get very close before flying off.

Osprey in Flight

2010-04-21T17:12:00.005-04:00

My friend Debi took this photo of an Osprey on an April 10th visit to Cypress Gardens.

Great Egret

2010-04-18T22:00:00.002-04:00

Larry was out at Cypress Gardens this past Saturday and got this wonderful shot of a Great Egret taking off from a Bald Cypress tree.

Osprey @ Cypress Gardens

2010-04-16T11:41:00.004-04:00

Had a great walk with Kathy this morning around the swamp at Cypress. We were lucky to see an Osprey adding to a nest!

Bluebirds

2010-04-14T10:02:00.004-04:00

This Bluebird pair has hung around all winter and I was sure they were a bonded pair. But the male spent several week courting the female. Boy was she playing hard to get! Finally on Easter another female showed up and suddenly she changed and chase the other female off. Next day they were busy building a nest. Watching for eggs now.

Singing Warblers

2010-04-13T22:03:00.003-04:00

This morning I went birding at Santee Canal Park in Moncks Corner SC. I had been looking for the arrival of the Prothonotary warbler, I heard one as soon as I started down the boardwalk. A Northern Parula warbler was singing too. They seem to be taking turns calling. It took some time to find the Prothonotary - a yellow bird against the light green leaves, high in a Bald Cypress tree -beautiful. Also in the park nesting Osprey, Red-wing Black Bird, Chickadees, Titmice, Carolina wrens and Cardinals.
In the afternoon I went to Pitt Street causeway Mt. Pleasant Tide was very low and the shore birds where far out. Seaside sparrows were calling. On the way back to my car I spotted a large soaring bird with a flat wingpnan. An immature Bald Eagle! I heard some twittering up in the sky and saw a flock of Chimney Swifts -the first of these birds I ave seen this year. A Tricolored Heron flew over too.

The Martins are back !

2010-04-12T20:59:00.004-04:00

Sunday morning I decided to do a little birding before church. I was heading for the mudflats along Folly Rd, but first I decided to see if there were any night herons on the island in the lake at Bayview Farms (James Is.). Nothing. As I left the parking lot of the tennis court I noticed the Purple Martins on a martin house across the street. The bottom right apartment was occupied by a house sparrow.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are back...

2010-04-12T11:39:00.003-04:00

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are back in my yard and are already having wars over who gets to drink from the feeders.

A little Saturday morning birding

2010-04-10T18:06:00.003-04:00

April is a great time to check out shore birds migrating through South Carolina. High tide was at 6 am. I left my house on James Island at 8 am and headed for the Plum Island causeway next to the James Is. Connector Bridge (SC.30). Not much there, a Red-tailed Hawk sat on a utility pole with a weather station; the hawk sat on a weather vane while it spun around with the changing wind direction. A few land lover birds were unhappy about the hawk’s presence, a Mocking bird, Cardinal, Blue Jay and Common Yellow throat warbler among them. No shore birds so I decide to drive over to Mt. Pleasant to the Pitt Street Causeway. It was about 8:30 and 65° F very windy. The tide was still going out. At first all I saw was a Willet and a Greater Yellow-legs, as the sand bars got bigger more and more birds flew in, by 9 am 500+ birds. Best birds of the day RED KNOTS and MARBLED GODWITS. At about 9:45, 2 oriental women came along with buckets, they climbed down the wall near me and crossed over the shallow water to the sand bar and dug clams - most of the birds flew away to the far side of the sand bar. After about 15 min. some of the peeps came closer. At 10:30 the women were still digging clams so I gave up and drove home.
Bird list for Plum Is. And Pitt St. causeways
Double –Crested Cormorant 10+
Brown Pelican 10+
Snowy Egret 1
Osprey 1
Red tailed Hawk
Laughing gull 10+
Herring gull 2
Least tern 5+
Fosters Tern
American Oyster Catcher 3
Greater Yellow Legs 2
Willet 3
Least Sandpiper 5+
Western sandpiper 50+
Dunlin 10+
Short billed Dowitcher 25+
Ruddy Turnstones 25+
Red Knot 12
Marbled Godwit 2
Semipalmated sandpiper 25+
Black bellied plover 10+
Semipalmated plover 50+
Morning dove 5
Clapper rails (heard)
Marsh Wren 5
Mocking Bird 2
Blue Jays 5
Red wing Black birds 25 +
Grackles 10
Boat Tailed Grackles 10+
Cardinals 3
Savannah Sparrows 1
Common Yellow throat warbler 1
Also saw a flock of about 100 Cedar Waxing when I left the house. They were festin on a neighbors holly tree.

Pitt Street looking east

Hawk on pole at Plum Is.

2010-04-09T11:57:00.001-04:00

The Great Crested Flycatchers are back in Charleston.