Latest posts
Winter Banding of Painted Buntings
Painted Buntings usually summer in the Charleston area but are largely gone from November through March. Aaron Given from the Town of Kiawah Island decided to study this further and posted on Facebook: “Over the past 10 years, the number of Painted Buntings wintering in South Carolina, particularly in the Charleston area, has dramatically increased.…
Birding from My Back Porch
I have a perfect 4-season back porch for backyard birdwatching. There is an undeveloped lot next to my house, a lagoon just behind, and a backyard that has no grass and is small and flat for optimal visibility. Additionally, there are two large Live Oak trees and one large Pine tree close to the porch…
Ask SIB: What Bird of Prey is This?
Patricia’s Question: On Monday, January 31, 2022, this is the scene found by Patricia and Page Schaefer in their driveway on Seabrook Island, SC. Identifying hawks can be confusing, so we asked our resident naturalist Bob Mercer for his opinion. Bob’s Response: “I would say it is an adult female Cooper’s Hawk. Why do I…
Bluebird Visit Starts New Year on a Good Note
My sister writes a weekly column for the Berkshire Eagle paper of Pittsfield, MA. Lots of subjects, but she is an ardent birder (much better than I). I thought you and others would be interested in this one! George Haskings, founding member of Seabrook Island Birders, now residing in Webster, NY
Fall Migration has started!
When it’s 90 degrees in the shade, it’s hard to remember the birds are already preparing for winter and have started their migrations south. For those of us on Seabrook Island, this means we loose our summer residents, Painted Buntings, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Green Herons to name a few. Amoung those arriving will be…
What’s to See on North Beach…and Beyond?
Aija and I spent a week at Seabrook in August, and despite the heat, we birded and shot photographs on North Beach. Of course! So, what’s to see on North Beach mid-August – through Aija’s binoculars and my camera lens? Like any time of the year, always interesting sightings! The striking American Oystercatchers are wonderful…
John’s Island Hawk Wars
When you are doing a mundane task, like refilling a birdbath, you don’t expect to witness a hawk brawl in your backyard. And yet, as I rounded the corner of my house on Johns Island there were two beautiful Red-shouldered Hawks rolling around on the ground in what, I can only assume, was a territorial…
Birdacious Hot Pepper Bark Butter
Thanks to Seabrook Island Birder (SIB) member Ralph Secoy for submitting this idea! What is (1) the absolutely lowest cost feeder, (2) the absolutely squirrel proof feeder, and (3) feed that birds love? It’s “Birdacious Hot Pepper Bark Butter”. This is a paste that is pressed right on to tree bark. That’s right – just scoop…
Celebrate Migration With Fascinating Free Webinars from The Cornell Lab of Ornithology!
Each fall billions of birds take flight, streaming through the air on their far-flung journeys. And each year, we hold our Migration Celebration to pause and marvel at this stunning natural spectacle. Join us September 13-24 for two weeks of special live events, family-friendly programs, and resources to help you enjoy the wonders of migration happening right…
More Photos of Hawks
This beautiful Red-shouldered Hawk was sitting on the railing to our deck at our Sealoft. Enjoy! David Woodman, SIB Member