Category: Sightings

Name of Bird Species: Reddish Egret
Number of Birds Sighted: 2
Date & Time of Sighting: July 1, 2017, 9-10am
Location of Sighting: North Beach at low tide

The Reddish Egrets are here on North Beach! One was spotted by David Gardner on Friday, June 30. That night, Aija and I spotted two Reddish Egrets on Kiawah East Beach, an adult and an immature. On Saturday, July 1, Aija spotted an immature Reddish along the Ocean one half hour before low tide at the far end of North Beach. I photographed it for an hour as it did it’s beautiful fishing dance, moving through the tidal pools from near the ocean, across the wide low tide beach, and to the shore by the “no dogs allowed” sign.

Aija then spotted a second immature Reddish Egret in her scope at Beachwalker Park. This Reddish then flew across the channel to Seabrook, and was joined back out at the ocean by the one I had been photographing. So, there are at least three Reddish Egrets, these two immature birds, and the adult we saw at Kiawah East Beach.

The immature Reddish Egret is a paler ashy-gray color. An adult Reddish Egret is more distinctive in color, with clean gray body and shaggy reddish neck. There may be a Tricolored Heron also fishing in the tide pools, and it has a white stripe on the neck and white under wings and on body.

The Reddish has a wide variety of feeding behaviors: running through shallows with long strides, staggering sideways, leaping in air, raising one or both wings as a canopy to shade schools of small fish seeking shelter in the shade, and abruptly stabbing at fish.

We did not see a Reddish on Monday, July 3. But keep looking. It should be on North Beach possibly through September.

Article Submitted by Aija Konrad, Photos by Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret, far end North Beach, low tide – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret, moving across North Beach, low tide – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret North Beach – Ed Konrad

Reddish Egret, near shore, North Beach – Ed Konrad

Good Morning and Happy Friday!

Judy Morr has just spotted a Roseate Spoonbill at the Fire Station!  They are back on Seabrook Island so watch out for these beautiful and interesting birds!

Name of Bird Species:  Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and Green Heron nests with chicks
Number of Birds Sighted:  Estimate adults and chicks on/near nests:

36 Great Egret
32 Snowy Egret
12 Green Heron

Date & Time of Sighting:  June 9, 2017, 10:00 – 10:45am
Location of Sighting: Jenkins Point: 1st pond to left as enter on Jenkins Point Road, and Old Wharf Road

At first pond to left as enter on Jenkins Point: 5 Great Egret and 3 Snowy Egret nests with chicks. Also spotted juvenile Green Heron so must be nest there too.

On Old Wharf Road: 4 Great Egret and 5 Snowy Egret nests with chicks, all visible from road. Also in tree, just to left of this pond near road, spotted a Green Heron nest with 3 chicks, and at least 12 total Green Herons including 9 juveniles/chicks. Be careful of the baby alligators sunning near this tree, and their big mama keeping a close watch. Adult gator eyed-balled us as she swam by, and later gave a very loud bellow from back of pond that seemed to denote her displeasure with us in this area.

Great photo opportunities of chicks and adults in action!

Article Submitted by Aija Konrad, Photos by Ed Konrad

Yellow-breasted Chat on Boardwalk #1 – Ed Konrad

Yellow-breasted Chat on Boardwalk #1 – Ed Konrad

Name of Bird Species: Yellow-breasted Chat
Number of Birds Sighted: 2
Date & Time of Sighting: June 9, 2017, 8:17am and 10:10am
Location of Sighting: North Beach Property Owners’ Boardwalk #1

As we were walking out to North Beach on Boardwalk #1 at 8:17am, the Yellow-breasted Chat was very vocal on the right side of the boardwalk, often in the tallest tree on the right, just before the bend to the porta-potty. Several times if flew over the boardwalk, with clumsy flight and then back. It made it’s silly calls the entire time. When we came off the beach about 10:10am, we heard and saw it in the same area, same tree. I believe there were 2 birds, because I thought I heard another one in the wax myrtle area on Bobcat Dune boardwalk. 

Article Submitted by Aija Konrad, Photos by Ed Konrad

Name: Nancy Brown & Flo Foley
Date & Time of Sighting:
Wednesday April 26, 2017 approximately 10:30 am
Location of Sighting (be as specific as possible):
Flying above Crooked Oaks Golf Course on the 11th hole fairway
Name of Bird Species:
Mississippi Kite
Number of Birds Sighted: 2
Comments: We have been expecting to see the Mississippi Kite any day, and today was our “first of season” sighting. Throughout the late spring and summer of 2016, we would see them nearly every time we golfed Crooked Oaks (sometimes on Ocean Winds) and almost always on the fairway or green of the 11th hole of Crooked Oaks. Flo was golfing in a separate group ahead of me and she also saw them. Look for a sleek looking gray bird of prey with long slender wings and a long squared off tail.

Editors Note: This first of season (FOS) sighting is another example of a migrating bird who spends the summer on Seabrook Island (and most likely breeds here too!).   To learn more about them, visit the Mississippi & Swallow-tail Kite blog we published one year ago.  Photo above was is a file photo taken by Ed Konrad in Georgia.

Name: Aija and Ed Konrad
Email: aijak@aol.com
Date & Time of Sighting:
April 21. 2017 at about 9:30 am
Location of Sighting (be as specific as possible):
Bobcat Dune Boardwalk, looking toward the houses. In the area that runs through the sandy part with grasses, looking toward the houses.
Name of Bird Species:
Yellow-breasted Chat
Number of Birds Sighted: 1
Comments: I heard this bird before we saw it, calling it’s ridiculous “chatting” call. I have had it at this location for the past 3 summers. It tends to sit on top of bushes or trees and make it’s call. It can be a bit secretive and make you crazy because you can hear it, but hard to find. It is very showy with it’s yellow breast and throat, and fairly large (7.5″). I have since seen or heard it for the last 4 days. It will stay for the summer.

Editors Note:  Thank you Aija and Ed for reporting your sighting! This first of season (FOS) sighting is another example of a migrating bird who spends the summer on Seabrook Island to breed. Since your sighting we learned that David Gardner from St. Christopher had never seen or heard this bird on Seabrook Island, and it is new for several others of us!  How exciting to know we have an elusive bird that many of us will now add to our lifelist!

Submitter Name:
Patricia Schaefer
Date & Time of Sighting:
Sunday April 23 at about Noon
Location of Sighting (be as specific as possible):
Over the marsh and trees in my back yard and lot next door
Name of Bird Species:
Red-headed woodpeckers
Number of Birds Sighted: 2
Comments: I have not see this bird here in a long time. There were a pair flying in and out of trees. They did a lot of chirping, then in the distance I could see them chasing one another and lots of talking! I did snap an image or two

Editors Note:  Thank you Patricia for reporting your sighting! This first of season (FOS) sighting is another example of a migrating bird who spends the summer on Seabrook Island to breed. Last year, I would see them in two places on the golf course – on Crooked Oaks in the dead tree to the right of the 10th green and in the same tree where the former Bald Eagles had their nest (from the Crooked Oaks tee box of #4 and Ocean Winds green #3).  Where have you seen these interesting birds?  To learn more about them, visit the Red-headed Woodpecker blog we published one year ago.

Red-headed Woodpecker – Patricia Schaefer

Red-headed Woodpecker – Patricia Schaefer