Latest posts
Help Resight Banded Black Skimmers
SCDNR is looking for volunteers to resight and report banded Black Skimmers. Remember our motto – Shorebirds, Let them rest – so no cell phone photos please. If you have a long telephoto lens and a computer program to enhance the code on the band, you are encouraged to submit photos as outlined on this image. Thank…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker – Colaptes auratusLength: 11-12.2″; Wingspan: 16.5-20.1″; Weight: 3.9-5.6 oz. Northern Flickers are large, brown woodpeckers with a gentle expression and handsome black-scalloped plumage. On walks, don’t be surprised if you scare one up from the ground. It’s not where you’d expect to find a woodpecker, but flickers eat mainly ants and beetles, digging for them…
SIB “Bird of the Week” – Palm Warbler
Palm Warbler – Setophaga palmarumLength: 5.5″; Wingspan 8″; Weight: 0.36 oz. The Palm Warbler is one of the wood warblers. It is fairly common on Seabrook in the fall and winter months. The most obvious field mark is its tail-wagging habit. Although it is a rather dull olive on its back, as it wags, it shows its…
SIB Bird of the Week – Pine Warbler
This warbler is well named due to it not often seen away from pine trees. Pine Warblers forage in a rather leisurely way at all levels in the pinewoods, from the ground to the treetops. This species is only a short-distance migrant, and almost the entire population spends the winter within the southern United States.…
Birds and Hurricanes
All eyes are on Hurricane Helene as she marches her way toward Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The forecast tells us we’ll be on the east side of the storm as it tracks through, which translates to the windy and rainy side. Up to 10″ of rain and wind gusts to 80 mph are being…
Bird of the week – Reddish Egrets – North Beach
Early Wednesday morning, Ed and I were treated to the sight of two beautiful Reddish Egrets actively feeding on North Beach. It’s a thrill to see one Reddish Egret at this time of the year, but two is fantastic! They are not common birds here in the Low Country, so it is always a great…
Ask SIB: Aging Bald Eagles
Question: I recently photographed a Bald Eagle on North Beach, and while I know it’s not yet an adult, how can I tell the age of this eagle? Gina Sanders Answer: An adult Bald Eagle is unmistakable! They are big, fly with a flat wing (flying plank is how it is sometimes described), sport huge…
SIB Bird of the Week – Wood Stork
Large, white Wood Storks wade through southeastern swamps and wetlands. It is a good flier, soaring on thermals with neck and legs outstretched. This bald-headed wading bird stands just over 3 feet tall, which makes it one of the tallest wetland bird. A whooping crane beats out the Wood Stork as tallest. Wood Storks breed…
The Significance of Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary
Most residents and visitors of Seabrook Island are very familiar with Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary and its significance for our local seabirds and shorebirds. You’ve no doubt heard about the large number of Brown Pelicans that nest there, as well as the roosting grounds for Whimbrel and other migrating birds. Cornell Lab of Ornithology released…
Knot your average net!
You’ve no doubt heard about “the net” by now! Between our evening program, social media posts, and SIB’s article in the June Seabrooker, we’ve had a front row seat to the process of donating the net. SCDNR’s Coastal Bird Program coordinators recently released the following article acknowledging the donation. All of us on Seabrook Island…
