It was a beautiful January day to search for as many wintering sparrows on Seabrook Island as could be located. The group met at St. Christopher with a goal to tour several spots at the Camp then procede to the maintenance area and others as time permitted. Flo Foley provided each participant with a sheet of pictures detailing the distinguishing characteristics of the 12 sparrow species most likely to be found. The group started at the Camp’s feeders where Chipping and Song Sparrows were seen. Next the group proceded out to the beach where in the dunes a Savannah Sparrow was seen. Around the bend in the marshes along Bohicket Creek, the three marsh sparrows (Nelson’s, Saltmarsh and Seaside) were seen. On the return trip, the “islands” of brush were searched in hopes of finding a Field Sparrow. Alas, that species remained hidden but the group was lucky enough to flush out three elusive Common Ground Doves. The group then traveled to the maintenance area where Chipping, Song and White Throated Sparrows as well as an Eastern Towhee were seen. Finally, the group proceeded to the Equestrian Center in hopes of finding a Swamp Sparrow, a Junco and / or a Vesper. No luck in any of these species but for the day, 8 sparrow species were seen with 64 species seen in total. (See entire list below)
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Article Submitted by: Judy Morr
Photos Submitted by: Flo Foley
Camp St. Christopher
Bufflehead 7
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Red-throated Loon 1
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Brown Pelican 13
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 8
Bald Eagle 1
Clapper Rail 2
American Oystercatcher 7
Willet 3
Bonaparte’s Gull 1
Laughing Gull 11
Ring-billed Gull 9
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Forster’s Tern 1
Common Ground-Dove 3
Mourning Dove 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
American Crow 4
Carolina Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 3
House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Gray Catbird 2
Pine Warbler 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Nelson’s Sparrow 1
Saltmarsh Sparrow 4
Seaside Sparrow 3
Chipping Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Red-winged Blackbird 30
American Goldfinch 1
Maintenance Area and Equestrian Center
Lesser Scaup 3
Bufflehead 49
Wood Stork 12
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Snowy Egret 1
White Ibis 12
Black Vulture 4
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 2
Bald Eagle 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 2
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Killdeer 1
Bonaparte’s Gull 6
Ring-billed Gull 3
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 3
Tufted Titmouse 1
House Wren 3
Carolina Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3
Eastern Bluebird 3
American Robin 2
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 2
Palm Warbler 12
Pine Warbler 4
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 3
Eastern Towhee 1
Northern Cardinal 3
House Finch 5
American Goldfinch 9
SIB 