Zoroark Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 My side of the trip report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/58344/80499 For two weeks, I am going to be in South Carolina with my mother at my aunt's house. This trip potentially may push me past 300 birds this year. I won't be putting any photos up until a bit later (still way behind on editing and only have my old laptop), except rarities that trip the rare bird alert. I'll try to get audio uploaded right away, though. I'll make a new post in the evening each day that I go out, as well as days I stay home with anything interesting. Today's trip (without Mom) was to Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve in southern Columbia. I got two lifers and six firsts of the year: Yellow-billed Cuckoo (FOY) Acadian Flycatcher (lifer) Great Crested Flycatcher (FOY) Red-eyed Vireo (FOY) Wood Thrush (lifer + audio) Prothonotary Warbler (FOY) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 I have some experience on the coast if you head that way and need some tips on targets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 1 hour ago, blackburnian said: I have some experience on the coast if you head that way and need some tips on targets. I have it on good authority that advice on Bull Island / Cape Romaine will be appreciated, along with info on Bear Island. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 5, 2022 Author Share Posted June 5, 2022 (edited) I went to Barnwell State Park (my mother couldn't come) and we also enjoyed the birds in the yard. If anyone finds themselves in this part of South Carolina, that state park is an absolute gem. 8 firsts of the year: Chimney Swift Eastern Wood-Pewee Fish Crow Little Blue Heron Cattle Egret Mississippi Kite Brown-headed Nuthatch Painted Bunting Audio lifers: Acadian Flycatcher Blue Jay Belted Kingfisher Blue Grosbeak Green Heron New in South Carolina: Indigo Bunting House Sparrow (I specifically did a quick list at the supermarket because I didn't have one yet) I think I may need to start keeping track of which birds I've recorded, as I've had many chances to record the Blue Jay before. Edited June 5, 2022 by Zoroark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 You'll easily get your 300 for the year. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) 16 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: I have it on good authority that advice on Bull Island / Cape Romaine will be appreciated, along with info on Bear Island. Haven’t done Cape Romaine but have birded quite a bit at Bear Island/Donnelley. A lot of the southeast specialties are easy at these places-Purple Gallinule, whistling duck, Least Bittern, spoonbill, etc- but the real draw is the shorebird migration, which is completely dependent on water levels in the impoundments. When the levels are low and a lot of mud flats are exposed, it can be quite the spectacle of shorebirds, wading birds, and terns. Unfortunately, it seems that such conditions are becoming increasingly infrequent. Also, at Bear, check the next boxes for Barn Owls! Edited June 6, 2022 by blackburnian 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyonabird Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 If you are in South Carolina, don't pass up the opportunity to go to Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge and see the Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 6, 2022 Author Share Posted June 6, 2022 (edited) @Spyonabird The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is definitely a major target for me, but I'm a little tethered for this trip. I'd certainly stake one out if it were up to me. Edited June 6, 2022 by Zoroark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 You don't have to go as far as Sandhills. RCWO can be found in the southern half of the state. I got mine at the Savannah River Site, not far from Barnwell. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 7, 2022 Author Share Posted June 7, 2022 A visit to Super-Sod in Orangeburg. Not many plovers, but I did get an FOY Eastern Kingbird (with audio), and an audio lifer Eastern Bluebird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 10, 2022 Author Share Posted June 10, 2022 (edited) I got an FOY Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Yellow-throated Warbler over the last two days. However, what I'm about 90% sure I got last night is more interesting. I went outside for an hour after dark to listen for owls and nightjars. About 30 minutes in, I faintly heard a lifer Eastern Whip-poor-will singing. I want to listen again tonight with a recorder to confirm my mind wasn't playing tricks on me, as this would be the first sighting of an EWPW in Bamberg County. It's not necessarily rare; this is just an underbirded county. There are also only five records of a Chuck-will's-widow and no records of a Common Nighthawk. I'm going to refrain from putting it in my signature for the moment. Edited June 10, 2022 by Zoroark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 Chuck is more likely in SC. If there are only five records, I agree it's due to being under-birded. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 12, 2022 Author Share Posted June 12, 2022 (edited) Yesterday, my mother and I went over to the Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Sanctuary and the Cuddo unit of Santee NWR. Lots of good stuff at both places, including FOY Yellow-throated Warbler and Laughing Gull. I had never seen so many Prothonotary Warblers. We came back exhausted and went to sleep immediately, and I had a lot of audio recordings to go through before I could finalize the lists. I should've gone out to join the Audubon walk at Phinizy Swamp in Augusta this morning, but I wanted to sleep in and instead endured a muggy Barnwell State Park and barely took any photos. I'll probably lie low for the next few days because it's going to be hot and humid. I may instead upload some audio to those checklists. I also changed Thursday's nightjar to a Chuck-will's-widow. Edited June 12, 2022 by Zoroark 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 It was really hot and humid, but I wanted to go for a drive. I figured another visit to Super-Sod was reasonable because I could stay in the car. (Don't be surprised if I do the Santee NWR drive again for the same reason. ?) It paid off, and I got a lifer Eastern Meadowlark (with audio and a bad photograph). Not long after I got back, an FOY Wood Stork circled over my aunt's house. That brings me to 300 for the year. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 14, 2022 Author Share Posted June 14, 2022 I got a tip from a family member on a good place nearby to find a Swallow-tailed Kite. My mother and I went over to check it out before the clouds rolled in. As we were pulling away to leave, I saw one in the sky, but by the time I grabbed the camera it had flown off. At least I got an FOY. We drove in the rain to Barnwell State Park to enjoy the post-rain singing, and after eating, we sat outside for two hours for a huge 34-species yard checklist. I wish I could get that many in one day back home. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 15, 2022 Author Share Posted June 15, 2022 I forgot to report an Eastern Bluebird on that checklist, so it's actually 35. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 17, 2022 Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 It's been really hot, but we did get out a few times over the last two days: Caw Caw Interpretive Center Edisto Beach Edisto Beach Environmental Learning Center Botany Bay Plantation Wildlife Management Area I got five FOYs, two of which are lifers (with photos): Sandwich Tern Wilson's Plover Tricolored Heron Least Tern (lifer) American Oystercatcher (lifer) We're taking it easy to cool down today, and we're flying back tomorrow. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 18, 2022 Share Posted June 18, 2022 (edited) Glad you had a good trip! Sorry we forgot to turn the thermostat down! Edited June 18, 2022 by Charlie Spencer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 I visited Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve one last time before our flight; Mom didn't join me for this one. The highlight was actually getting photos of the Wood Thrush. I'll post a recap and upload the larger audio files over the next couple days. Lists aren't final until then. (Photos might take a few months due to the backlog, unfortunately.) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted June 19, 2022 Share Posted June 19, 2022 I'm glad you had a great trip here. The temps at Congaree Creek yesterday were certainly better than when you arrived! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now