Recently Joleen Ardaiolo sent a text that she had a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak at her feeder. A few minutes later, she reported a male had also visited. This reminded me that now is the time for the birding variety of short term rentals. Rose-breasted Grosbeak appear for just a day or two then head on north for their breeding. Often the day after I text my sister-in-law of the appearance in my yard, she will respond the next day that they have arrived at her feeder in Ohio.
This started a discussion of other short term rentals. The first that came to mind were our favorite Red Knots. They of course stay a little longer but it’s thought each bird probably stays only for a couple weeks.
Whimbrels are reported in numbers visiting Deveaux Bank each evening. Look for them on North Beach but also flying in at dusk.
Bobolink are short term visitors in both the spring and the fall. My first reported siting of a Bobolink was on the 16th hole of Ocean Winds on April 30, 2018. I’ve seen it 3 other times in late April on Seabrook Island and twice in early October.
American Redstarts are a different short term renter. I have never seen them on Seabrook Island in the spring. Instead, they are “everywhere” for a few weeks in late September and early October.
I’ve recently seen Summer Tanager’s in the area. They will stay all summer. Their sister species, Scarlett Tanager are short term renters in early May or early October.
It seems that many of these short term visitors are colorful. I’ll have to be on the look out for more as well as the summer warblers that have begun to arrive.
Submitted by: Judy Morr