Day: February 22, 2017

Seabrook Island Birders participated in the nationwide Audubon’s Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) on February 17^th through the 20^th. In addition to members reporting their sightings in their own backyard, 36 individuals also joined at least one of the five bird walks scheduled on Sunday February 19 and Monday February 20 at various venues around Seabrook Island.

Sunday morning started at 8:30 am with the group car pooling along Jenkins Point to check out various lagoons and vistas. Among the 28 species seen, the group enjoyed watching a Yellow-throated Warbler have breakfast on a pine cone.

SIB members birding on Jenkins Point during the GBBC – Ed Konrad

Great Egret on Jenkins Point – Ed Konrad

Yellow-throated Warbler high in a pine tree on Jenkins Point – Ed Konrad

The next walk was at Palmetto Lake and the Lake House. An Osprey crossed overhead multiple times to allow good views of banking and turning. Nineteen (primarily juvenile) White Ibis also flew overhead. Two Black-crowned Night-Herons and a Green Heron were near the water to provide a better view as were the Pied-billed Grebes and Double-crested Cormorant. Not to be outdone by their feathered friends, two alligators posed intertwined on the platform with five yellow bellied sliders basking on the alligators’ backs in the sun.

Alligators and turtles enjoying the beautiful day – Ed Konrad

Black-crowned Night-Heron hiding in the shrubs next to Palmetto Lake – Ed Konrad

Green Heron on the bank of Palmetto Lake – Charles Moore

Pied-billed Grebes in Palmetto Lake – Ed Konrad

SIB members at the Lake House for the GBBC – Ed Konrad

SIB members birding at Palmetto Lake – Charles Moore

After a brief break, the third walk was along North Beach. Not surprising, a different variety of birds was seen on this walk. It would be hard to pick a highlight of this walk but the Northern Gannet in the distance as well as closer views of Horned Grebe, Dunlin and 42 Lessor Scaup were all crowd pleasers. Of course seeing banded Piping Plover and American Oystercatchers were also winners.

SIB members birding North Beach – Ed Konrad

Piping Plovers on North Beach including one with “jewelry” – Ed Konrad

American Oystercatchers on North Beach including our infamous “U5” on the left – Ed Konrad

Sunday ended with a walk starting at the Equestrian Center and proceeding to the Garden and Maintenance Area. Eastern Bluebirds abound but bigger birds stole the show. Twenty-six (26) Wild Turkeys were gathered in one of the pastures. A Red-shouldered Hawk flew overhead then posed in a tree for pictures. As the group was leaving the Equestrian Center, a screech alerted of more activity and a picture of a pair of hawks mating was able to be captured. Continuing the big bird theme, a view into the holding pond past the maintenance area resulted in not only 25 Bufflehead but a rarer Common Goldeneye.

Common Goldeneye (which aren’t that common!) along with Bufflehead on the water treatment pond – Ed Konrad

A beautiful Pine Warbler at the Equestrian Center – Ed Konrad

Osprey flying overhead – Ed Konrad

Red-shouldered Hawk flying above the Equestrian Center – Ed Konrad

“The Birds & the Bees” as demonstrated by Red-shouldered Hawks at the Equestrian Center – Ed Konrad

Monday ended the fabulous weekend with a “walk” in golf carts along the paths of Crooked Oaks Golf Course, closed to golfing for the day for maintenance. The 19 participants split in to two groups for a friendly competition regarding who could find the most species. One group started at 18 and went backwards on the course while another started at one. Sightings were shared when the groups met at the Bald Eagle’s nest on the hole #3. Unfortunately the Bald Eagle was not visible at that time but when one of the groups returned later, a mature eagle was watching over from above. A weekend high of 38 species was seen that morning with favorites that included the Wood Stork who appeared to be guarding over a 7 foot alligator along with the eagle mentioned above and an Eastern Towhee ground feeding near a feeder on the 17th hole.

SIB members truly enjoyed the experience of birding a location some had never been in a way that was accessible for many more – Ed Konrad

“Best friends – for now!” Wood Stork sitting next to an American Aligator

Eastern Towhee feeding on the ground in a yard on the 17th hole – Valerie Doane

Pine tree on 3rd hole of Crooked Oaks with Bald Eagle sitting above its nest – Ed Konrad

Bald Eagle sitting above its nest in a large pine hear the yellow tee-box on #3 Crooked Oaks – Ed Konrad

“Which way did he go?” Double-crested Cormorants – Valerie Doane

Even at 9-years old, our youngest birder of the day had a fabulous time and even demonstrated the difference between a Turkey & Black Vulture – Ed Konrad

Northern Flicker – Ed Konrad

Red-bellied Woodpecker – Ed Konrad

Each walk saw American Crows (no surprise) and Yellow-rumped warblers with most walks reporting Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice. The total number of each species by walk is shown below. A great weekend of contributing to citizen science and the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Article Submitted by:  Judy Morr
Photographs Submitted by:  Valerie Doane, Ed Konrad, Charles Moore & Dean Morr