On October 25, we asked the question “When will Hooded Mergansers return?” (see below). It’s a little earlier than average but Glen Cox reported and Don Smith confirmed the Hooded Mergansers returned to Jenkins Point on November 3. Migration is definitely in full swing. Enjoy these beautiful “winter” residents.
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One of the first signs of “winter” on Seabrook Island is when the Hooded Mergansers return to Jenkins Point. SIB member Don Smith has tracked this over the years. His scientific report says:
I have been recording when I first see them on Jenkins Point for ten years. They may have arrived earlier than when I saw them, but I am by the Jenkins Point lagoon they like most every day. The following are my sighting dates:
11/9/23
11/8/22
11/8/21
11/3/20
11/2/19
10/27/18
11/8/17
11/11/16
11/13/15
11/16/14
11/13/13
It must have been cold up north earlier in 2018.
You may want to start looking for them. We’ll report when Don sees them first for 2024!