Lowcountry outdoors: 2021 Fish Haul Beach Park

Wednesday, October 6, 2021

2021 Fish Haul Beach Park - Wildlife Sightings

Male Yellow-Bellied Slider

My first trip to Fish Haul Beach Park on Hilton Head Island included some dreadful traffic on the way to Mitchelville, an area tucked away just beyond Hilton Head Airport. I arrived at the parking lot before 9 a.m. and quickly walked down to the beach to see what wildlife might have been stirring. A dead tree serving as a roost for birds right at the edge of a healthy maritime forest was hosting an osprey, two wood storks, and a great egret when I looked up - and that's a nice grouping of species in one tree.

Long-tailed Skipper on Marsh Mallow

A walk on a boardwalk through a tidal marsh riparian zone revealed smaller wildlife occupying this specialty edge habitat between freshwater uplands and sand dunes. For example, looking toward land one sees freshwater bullrush growing, and looking towards the see one sees spike rush and spartina. All of which is good habitat for lizards, snakes, small fish and such that draws the attention of wading birds.

To view past blog entires about visiting beaches click on 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2020 Botany Bay WMA - 2019 Kiawah Island - 2016 Seabrook Island - 2015 Little St. Simon's Island - 2015 Holden Beach - 2015 Sunset Beach - 2015 Ocean Isle - 2015 Oak Island - 2015 Edisto Beach State Park - 2015 Folly Beach- 2014 Bald Head Island - 2013 Corolla Beach - 2013 Ocracoke Island - 2010 Myrtle Beach State Park - 2010 Pawley's Island - 2009 Huntington Beach State Park