Birds are cool Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 Has anybody ever been here? I am going to go to Bear Island near Charleston sometime in April. I can't find the hotspot on ebird. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted January 25 Author Share Posted January 25 Found the Hotspot, looks great. 12,000 acres of untouched land! Supposed to be great for birding and photography! https://southcarolinalowcountry.com/bear-island-wildlife-management-area/ https://ebird.org/hotspot/L191760 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 I was there last February on a trip with SC Wildlife Federation. Great spot. SCWF has another trip scheduled in a couple of weeks but it's booked up. https://ebird.org/checklist/S102491895 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted January 25 Author Share Posted January 25 36 minutes ago, Charlie Spencer said: I was there last February on a trip with SC Wildlife Federation. Great spot. SCWF has another trip scheduled in a couple of weeks but it's booked up. https://ebird.org/checklist/S102491895 Thanks. I thought it had restricted acsess in the winter? Is it necessary to walk 7 miles to see a bunch of birds? I am going up there with my mother and sister, both non birder. My mother would be fine walking that far, but my sister would not, do you need to walk far to see a lot of species? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 25 Share Posted January 25 (edited) My checklist above covers less than two walking miles, with some driving in between. Depending on where you park, the group had 20+ birds within 300 feet of the first lot. I'll mark up a map for you this weekend. Edited January 25 by Charlie Spencer 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted January 26 Author Share Posted January 26 1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said: My checklist above covers less than two walking miles, with some driving in between. Depending on where you park, the group had 20+ birds within 300 feet of the first lot. I'll mark up a map for you this weekend. Thank you. We are probably going to do a 9 mile loop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoroark Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Good luck. It's definitely on the list of places I want to go in South Carolina, but it's a bit out of the way. I think my father visited there over 30 years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 @Birds are cool, there's parking at Ti Ti Road, just off Bennett's Point Road (A). There's a wetland adjacent to the parking, and a large pond across the road to the east, both with plenty of action. You can keep driving north on Ti Ti. The stretch from (B) to (C) is open or scrubby on either side. Keep an eye on the owl boxes on the right (D); you might see something peeking out! From C on, you'll have ponds and wetlands on either side. Stop where you want. Be aware there are no public bathrooms. I recall the last ones were west of US 17. There's no place to get food or drink either. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 (edited) I use to bird there fairly often. The shorebirding is mostly correlative with the water levels. If the impoundments are full, it can be difficult. If there’s a bunch of mud exposed, I’ve seen thousands of shorebirds, wading birds, terns, etc…working the impoundments. Of course, there’s still a ton to see that doesn’t depend on water levels. Southeastern specialities like spoonbills, kites, bobwhites, Mottled Ducks, gallinules, Wood Storks, Least Bitterns, Anhingas, etc…are all pretty easy. Barn Owls are also possible. Check the boxes. Additionally, it is one of the only semi-reliable places for Black Rail in SC, although I’ve never had them there. I’ve always found its adjacent sister refuge, Donnelley WMA, to be better for whistling ducks and Purple Gallinules. It’s only a few minutes away. Edited January 31 by blackburnian 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 (edited) ignore Edited January 31 by blackburnian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 1 hour ago, blackburnian said: I use to bird there fairly often. The shorebirding is mostly correlative with the water levels. If the impoundments are full, it can be difficult. If there’s a bunch of mud exposed, I’ve seen thousands of shorebirds, wading birds, terns, etc…working the impoundments. Of course, there’s still a ton to see that doesn’t depend on water levels. Southeastern specialities like spoonbills, kites, bobwhites, Mottled Ducks, gallinules, Wood Storks, Least Bitterns, Anhingas, etc…are all pretty easy. Barn Owls are also possible. Check the boxes. Additionally, it is one of the only semi-reliable places for Black Rail in SC, although I’ve never had them there. I’ve always found its adjacent sister refuge, Donnelley WMA, to be better for whistling ducks and Purple Gallinules. It’s only a few minutes away. Thank you! Is there any way or any place in the WMA where it is better for a Black Rail than other places? I have always wanted to see one of them, along with Barn Owls and Purple Gallinules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 @blackburnian, is Bear Island WMA good for photography? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackburnian Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 7 hours ago, Birds are cool said: @blackburnian, is Bear Island WMA good for photography? Thanks. Absolutely. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 5 Author Share Posted April 5 My mother, sister, and I are going to Bear Island WMA next Tuesday! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 11 Author Share Posted April 11 Going tomorrow! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Finished my first day! Bear Island WMA was great! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Trip Report: https://ebird.org/tripreport/118966 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Spencer Posted April 13 Share Posted April 13 75 in the park itself, and 17 more on the beach. Nice day! I'm surprised at the number of duck species. I thought they would all be gone by now. Nice selection of shorbs and waders! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 12 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said: 75 in the park itself, and 17 more on the beach. Nice day! I'm surprised at the number of duck species. I thought they would all be gone by now. Nice selection of shorbs and waders! It was pretty awesome! The shovelers were far out with the other duck species, but I got some really nice views of the BWTE! I was not expecting to see the amount of American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts though! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birds are cool Posted April 14 Author Share Posted April 14 Finished my second day of the trip! My uncle, sister, and I walked a trail in Marion Forest (260,00 acre forest), went to the beach, and then at the end of the day my mother joined us and we went for a tour of the city. We stopped at a waterfront park and I took some photos I am really happy with! Great day for birding! 3 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