Melanie Jerome used the Seabrook Island Birders group mailing list to announce an impromptu Backyard Birding at her home next to the boat ramp. You can subscribe to SIB’s Google Group Emails to hear about impromptu bird walks, bird sightings on Seabrook or to ask a question to a wider group – click here and then click on “Subscribe to this group”.
It was a brisk 33 degrees when we began birding at 7:30am. Nine enthusiastic birders had responded to Melanie’s invitation. It was an enjoyable morning of birding with 29 species being seen. Three photographers were available to capture the moment and the birds.
We were greeted by one of our many visiting Killdeer. From the Jerome’s deck, the group had good views of numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers (Myrtle Warblers) and identified a Pine Warbler and a Palm Warbler. A Downy Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Hooded Merganser were also among the birds seen. As we walked down to the boat ramp for a different view, the row of coffee mugs told another part of the story.
From the boat ramp, we saw a Tricolor Heron at the bend of the creek. Soon a Little Blue Heron flew in to join it. The Snowy Egret joined the party to make a trifecta. About that time, a river otter was seen swimming down the creek. Not a bird but still a fun sighting.
Since we had abandoned the deck, an Eastern Bluebird came to investigate that area.
It perched on the scope, a coffee mug and the umbrella as it made it’s way to check out the bluebird house he may consider home in a couple months.
From the boat ramp, a pair of Coopers Hawks flew overhead as did four Red-breasted Merganser, and a Fish Crow. In the trees over the Creekwatch Pool, American Robins and Cedar Waxwings were seen flying in flocks.
When the Bald Eagle flew over, Bob Mercer was able to educate us that he knew it was a fourth year “immature”. He knew this because the head and tail had started to turn white but it had not yet reached the coloration of a mature Bald Eagle.
The combination of a variety of good birds and the companionship of other birders made a good morning gathering. Thanks Rob and Melanie for hosting us.
Hooded Merganser 1
Red-breasted Merganser 4
Double-crested Cormorant 4
Brown Pelican 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Snowy Egret 3
Little Blue Heron 1
Tricolored Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 2
Cooper’s Hawk 2
Bald Eagle 1
Killdeer 2
Forster’s Tern 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 6
Fish Crow 1
Carolina Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Eastern Bluebird 12
American Robin 65
Northern Mockingbird 6
Cedar Waxwing 30
Palm Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 20
Northern Cardinal 1
House Finch 2
Submitted by: Judy Morr
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