Seabrook Island Birders Latest Blogs
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Registration open for 10th Anniversary Celebration
When: Thursday January 29, 2026 6:30 PM to 9:00 Where: SIPOA Lake House, 2319 Seabrook Island Road, Seabrook Island, SC…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – American Robin
American Robin – Turdus migratoriusLength: 10″; Wingspan: 17”.Although generally this bird is thought to be a sign of spring in the more northern…
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Hooded Mergansers have returned!
Every year in late October we start asking the question “When will Hooded Mergansers return?” Usually it’s in early November,…
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Join SIB for Slow Birding at the Boat Ramp/Crab Dock
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 4:00p-5:30pSlow Birding at Boat Ramp/Crab DockLocation: 1201 Creek Watch TrMax: 12Cost: Free for members; $10 donation…
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Join SIB: Beyond our Backyard – Santee Coastal WMA
Tuesday November 11, 2025 — 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (6:30am allowing for travel time)Birding at Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife…
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Learning Together at Seabrook Island Golf Courses (Ocean Winds or Crooked Oaks)
Monday November 17, 2025 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Crooked OaksLocation: Meet at Bag Drop at Island House 3772…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Crows: American vs Fish
American Crow – Corvus brachyrhynchosLength: 17.5″; Wingspan: 39″; Weight: 16 oz. Fish Crow – Corvus ossifragusLength: 15″; Wingspan: 36″; Weight: 10 oz. Probably many people on…
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Join SIB: Bike & Bird around Seabrook Island
Friday, November 7, 2025, 10:00am – 11:30amBike and BirdLocation: Meet at the Lake House at 10:00amMax: 12Cost: Free for members;…
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The Eerie Sounds of Halloween
Ghostly screams that pierce the night. Haunting, mournful, and eerie wails. Raspy shrieks and hair-raising screeches. These are the chilling…
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Galapagos Island Adventure – Part 5
We cannot leave the Galapagos Islands without visiting several iconic species. There are the two species of frigatebird, the Red-billed…
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Copy of Bird of the Week … Northern Mockingbird
Well, not sure any of you guessed this, but our 3rd President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, had a…
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SIB Member Profile – Mary Wilde
Mary Wilde and her family have owned on Seabrook Island since 2010. Like many, they came for a family vacation…
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Join SIB: Beyond our Backyard – Hawk Watch at Botany Bay
Tuesday October 28, 2025Location: Meet at Seabrook Island Real Estate to carpool at 8 a.m.Option: Meet at Botany Bay entrance…
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Galapagos Island Endemics (Part 4)
In the last three blogs, I discussed our Galapagos Island adventures with the Mockingbirds, Darwin Finches, Reptiles, and Mammals. While…
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SIB Reports – Here’s to the Birdwatchers!
Birders are “the most curious creature of all. Hyper-focused. Single-minded. Intense. Devoted. They speak in reverent tones and hushed whispers…
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October Big Day – SIB style
October 11 was October Big Day. This is a day designated by eBird with this stated purpose: Wherever you are…
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Ask SIB: Why are there so many Wood Storks?
If you’ve driven past the Lake House lately, you’ve probably noticed a large number of big, white birds gathering on…
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Matt Johnson Sept 29, 2025 Program Recording Now Available
If you missed it or you would like to watch it again a recording of “From Beidler Forest to Barranquilla,…
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Seabrook Island Birders Celebrating 10 Years
In late 2015 a few like-minded Seabrook Island birders, comprised primarily of a group of volunteers actively monitoring bluebird boxes,…
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Galapagos Islands Endemics (Part 3 Non-birds)
An endemic Lava Lizard basking on an endemic Land Iguana
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Join SIB: Beyond our Backyard at Bear Island WMA
Sunday October 19, 2025, 6:00 am– 2:00 pm (sunrise 7:26am)Trip to Bear Island WMALocation: Meet at SI Real Estate Office…
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Backyard Birding at Crab Dock/Boat Ramp
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 4:00p-5:30pBackyard Birding at Boat Ramp/Crab DockLocation: 1201 Creekwatch TrMax: 12Cost: Free for members; $10 donation for…
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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…
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SIB Reports – eBird Taxonomy Update Coming Soon!
Cornell Lab All About Birds and eBird will soon be updating our checklists for the upcoming Taxonomy Update. And it’s…
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Join SIB: Learning Together at Kiawah Preserve
Thursday, October 16, 2025 8:00am-11:00amLearning Together at Kiawah Preserve behind second gate (Blue Heron Observation Tower)Location: Meet at the parking…
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SIB Reports – Brown Pelicans return to nest on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary
SCDNR reported yesterday, October 8th, that Brown Pelicans had returned to nest on Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary, at Shem Creek.…
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Galapagos Birding (Part 2)
If you read the previous blog, you know that Charles Darwin visited the Galapagos Island in 1835. During his five…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Black Skimmer
Black Skimmer – Rynchops nigerLength: 18″; Wingspan: 44″; Weight: 11 oz. We are among a lucky few to have the…
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Join SIB – October Big Day – Various Events
Saturday October 11, 2025 7:30am – 7:00 pmOctober Big Day on Seabrook IslandLocation: Various locations around Seabrook IslandMax: 10 at any…
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Join SIB – Beyond Our Backyard – Ft Moultrie
Wednesday October 08, 2025 8am -10amTrip to Ft. MoultrieLocation: Meet at SI Real Estate Office to Car Pool (6:30a)or can…
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Learning Together at Seabrook Island Golf Courses (Ocean Winds or Crooked Oaks)
Monday October 13, 2025 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Crooked OaksLocation: Meet at Bag Drop at Island House 3772…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Piping Plover
Piping Plover – Charadrius melodusLength: 7.25″; Wingspan: 19″; Weight: 1.9 oz. The Piping Plover is a small shorebird that has gotten a…
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Galapagos Island Birding (Part 1)
This July, Eileen and I joined Wildside Nature Tours for 10 days on the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Located 700…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron – Egretta caeruleaLength: 22-29”; Wingspan: 40”Below is a confusing bird to identify. It’s a Little Blue Heron in what…
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Fall has arrived! What birds should we expect?
Fall officially arrives at 2:19pm EDT on Monday September 22. For birds, the fall season has been in effect for…
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Join SIB for Backyard Birding on Loblolly Lane
Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00am – 10:00amBackyard Birding at LoblollyLocation: 2116 Loblolly LaneMax: 12Cost: Free for members; $10 donation…
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Where Have All the Martins Gone?
The End of the Season The Purple Martin housing has grown quiet, signaling the close of our season with these…
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SIB Reports: A closer look at birds, with the editors of BWD Magazine
With fall migration underway, the birds we’re seeing and hearing are changing from day to day! The editors of BWD…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – American Redstart
American Redstart – Setophaga ruticillaLength: 5.25″; Wingspan: 7.75″; Weight: 0.29 oz. While the American Redstart is a wood-warbler and part of…
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Join SIB – Beyond Our Backyard – Caw Caw Interpretive Center
When: Friday September 19, 2025 9:00 AM until 12:00 PMWhere: Caw Caw interpretive center. 5200 Savannah Hwy, Ravenel SCCarpool: Meet at…
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Rescheduled Learning Together at Seabrook Island Golf Courses (Ocean Winds or Crooked Oaks)
Monday September 15, 2025 Rescheduled to September 22, 2025 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Ocean Winds Location: Meet at…
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Join SIB Beyond Our Backyard: Kiawah River Development
Sunday, September 14, 2025 8:00am-11:00amLearning Together at Kiawah RiverLocation: Meet at the “bridge” entering the propertyMax: 12 peopleCost None for…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren – Thryothorus ludovicianusLength: 5.5″; Wingspan: 7.5″; Weight: 0.74 oz. The Carolina Wren is the state bird of South Carolina and…
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Red Knot Update #4
As of August 29th, 2025, we have 11 satellite-tagged Red Knots still transmitting location data. Two were banded on March…
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‘SIB’s Article for the September Edition of “The Seabrooker”
In case you don’t receive it, or haven’t had a chance to read it yet, we hope you will enjoy…
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Join SIB Beyond Our Backyard – May Forest State Park
Wednesday September 10, 2025 9:00-Noon (Meet at Real Estate office at 8:15)Birding at May Forest State ParkLocation: 424 Fort Johnson…
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Learning Together at Seabrook Island Golf Courses (Ocean Winds or Crooked Oaks)
Monday September 15, 2025 8:30 am – 10:30 am – Ocean Winds Location: Meet at Bag Drop at Island House…
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Join SIB: Learning Together at Palmetto Lake
Sunday, September 07, 2025 7:30am-9:30amLocation: Meet at Pool end of Lake House parking lotMax: 15Cost: Free for 2025 members, $10…
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SIB “Bird of the Week”- Carolina Chickadee
The Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) is a common bird to our area, as well as a great portion of the…
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A Birds Eye View: The Feather Detective
The Feather Detective by Christopher Sweeney is a unique blend of mystery, memoir, and ornithology. One doesn’t usually think of…
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Move over Maverick, Hummingbirds are the real Top Guns!
If you’re a fan of the movie “Top Gun”, you’ve surely seen the sequel in which Maverick (Tom Cruise) reaches…
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2025 SI Eastern Bluebird Trail Season
The beauty and vitality of Eastern Bluebirds depends on the efforts of a dedicated team of volunteers who monitor and…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Roseate Spoonbill
Roseate Spoonbill – Platalea ajajaLength: 32″; Wingspan: 50″; Weight: 52oz. The next time you see a Roseate Spoonbill, check out the…
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SIB Reports: State of the Birds
“Five years ago, most ornithologists had a general sense that birds were declining – more than 3 billion birds lost…
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Thoughts of a New Bird Watcher
Occasionally through the years I would look at what birds were doing for a few minutes and then go back…
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Update #3 – Red Knot Tracking (and Hurricane Erin)
We are happy to report that both of the Red Knots tracking over the Atlantic Ocean have successfully reached land! LP7…
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SIB Reports: Shorebird Identification
Do you find shorebirds challenging to identify? Even the best birder has trouble with this bird group! And just when…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Laughing Gull
Laughing Gull – Leucophaeus AtricillaLength: 16.5″; Wingspan: 40″; Weight: 11 oz. Swirling over beaches with strident calls and a distinctive, crisp black…
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Latest Update! Red Knot Tracking
We have big news on the tracking front with two birds (LN5 and LP7) flying over the open Atlantic Ocean,…
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Seabrook Island Birders Presents on September 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM
From Beidler Forest to Barranquilla, Colombia: How Audubon is following the Prothonotary Warbler across the hemisphere Date: Monday September 29,…
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Learning Together: Sit, Sip and See – Palmetto Lake
Thursday, August 21 @ 6:30pmLocation: The equestrian end of Palmetto LakeMax: 20Cost: Free for members; $10 donation to SIB for…
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A Birds Eye View: That Last Carolina Summer
That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White is a good summer read. The publisher’s description calls it A Gripping Southern…
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SIB Bird of the week – Red-eyed Vireo
This little 5.1 inch Red-eyed Vireo is a chunky vireo with a long, angular head, thick neck, and a strong,…
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Learning Together at Seabrook Island Golf Courses (Ocean Winds or Crooked Oaks)
Monday August 18, 2025 7:30 am – 9:30 am – Ocean Winds (NOTE EARLIER START TIME TO HELP WITH THE…
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SIB Reports: Storks and Corks
Audubon South Carolina’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary, near Aiken, SC, has managed stork feeding ponds that provide vital foraging and resting…
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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…
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SIB Reports: Fall Migration and Bird Cast
BirdCast Migration Dashboard is back online for fall migration. Starting Friday, August 1, the site will report daily, radar-based measurements…
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Red Knot Update!
Hello Red Knot fans! This spring, 27 Red Knots were fitted with satellite transmitters during two banding events: 14 birds…
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Did you Know: How Birds Deal with Summer Heat
As we all escape to our air conditioning to avoid the South Carolina heat in summer, what do birds do…
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SIB -BIRD OF THE WEEK -Tricolor Heron
The Tricolor Heron can range in size from 25-30″ (64-76 cm). W. 3’2 (97 cm). Dark blue upperparts contrast with…
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Cruise Birding – 11 European countries in 12 days!
On May 13, Ed and I departed for an 18-day trip to Europe! It was our first trip “across the…
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SIB Bird of the Week – Summer Tanager
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of a flame-red bird flitting through the treetops in South Carolina’s warmer months, chances…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Painted Bunting
Painted Bunting – Passerina cirisLength: 5.5″; Wingspan: 8.75″; Weight: 0.54 oz. Without a doubt, this bird is one of the most beautiful…
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SIB – “Bird of the Week” – Marsh Wren
This little guy can be heard right now in all our marshes on Seabrook Island. They like to hang out…
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First Purple Martin Fledgling!
As many of you know, Seabrook Island Birders embarked on a new project this year – Purple Martin Landlords! After…
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‘SIB’s Article for the July Edition of “The Seabrooker”
In case you don’t receive it, or haven’t had a chance to read it yet, we hope you will enjoy…
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Join SIB: Sit, Sip, and See – Palmetto Lake
Tuesday, July 15 @ 7:00pmLocation: Picnic Table at the back of Palmetto Lake near the PlaygroundMax: 20Cost: Free for members;…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalisLength: 8.75″; Wingspan: 12″; Weight: 1.6 oz. We know many of our readers may be traveling and busy…
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Help Track the Red Knots!
On March 31st, Shorebird Stewards from Seabrook Island and Kiawah Island assisted SC DNR and Georgia DNR with banding Red…
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July 4th Challenge – find American Birds
Join SIB in celebrating our nation and its birds by searching for state birds and birds with states or America…
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“Bird of the Week” – Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican – Pelecanus occidentalisLength: 51″; Wingspan: 79″; Weight: 131.2 oz. Brown Pelicans are a very common site on Seabrook Island all…
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SIB Member Profile: Claudia Porter
Claudia Porter was born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles. After graduating from Occidental College with a degree…
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Ask SIB: Where did all the birds go?
Question: Up until recently our feeders have been busy, with birds coming and going all day. Now we see only…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – American Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher – Haematopus palliatusLength: 17.5″; Wingspan: 32″; Weight: 22.4 oz. The American Oystercatcher is a large, boldly patterned bird we…
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Welcome Summer and our Summer Birds
Happy Summer! Like us, many birds avoid the summer sun by limiting daytime activity. These birds will forage in the…
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SIB Explores: Carolina Bight Birding Center & Wings over Beaufort
If you find yourself in the Beaufort County area this September, you may want to consider a visit to the…
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Happy Father’s Day from SIB!
Today’s a big day for dads everywhere! Whether your plans include hanging out on the beach with family, grilling in…
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SIB Travels: Texas and Oklahoma
Members of Seabrook Island Birders love to travel to find birds. In fact, several members have some very exciting travel…
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SIB – “Bird of the Week” – Marsh Wren
This little guy can be heard right now in all our marshes on Seabrook Island. They like to hang out…
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2021/07/11 Welcome to American Oystercatcher Chicks DY & DZ
Our American Oystercatcher chicks have flown the Nesting Area! One of the oystercatcher parents was U5, a bird that has…
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2021/05/03 North Beach: New Nesting Area Signs and Nests!
Last Friday, coastal bird biologist Janet Thibault of SCDNR posted the yellow nesting area signs on North Beach and confirmed…
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Did you know? Amazing Hummingbird Facts
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are a familiar sight at our feeders. They quickly drop by for a drink, then they’re away like…
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SIB’s Article for the June Edition of “The Seabrooker”
In case you don’t receive it, or haven’t had a chance to read it yet, we hope you will enjoy…
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Join SIB: Beyond our Backyard – Kiawah River
Sunday, June 8, 2025 8:00am-11:00amLearning Together at Kiawah River Location: Meet at the “bridge” entering the property Max: 12 peopleCost None…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Clapper Rail
Clapper Rail – Rallus longirostrisLength: 14.5″; Wingspan: 19″; Weight: 10 oz. You may not be aware that hidden in dense…
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SIB Member Profile: Deanna Forsythe
Deanna Forsythe is originally from York, PA. She was a 6th grade teacher for 25 years beforeretiring to Seabrook Island…
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SIB “Bird of the Week” – Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher –Toxostoma rufum L 11.5” WS 13” WT 2.4 oz In the family of Mimidae, they are related to…
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Baby Bird Out of Nest
Have you ever found a baby bird on the ground and wondered what to do? Here are a few tips…
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We have Purple Martins!
We have Purple Martins! Seabrook Island Birders is excited to announce that a small colony of Purple Martins have discovered…
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SIB Bird of the Week – Summer Tanager
If you’ve ever caught a glimpse of a flame-red bird flitting through the treetops in South Carolina’s warmer months, chances…