2022 Dolphin Head Beach - Marine Life and Birds

Colorful Whip Coral placed in driftwood

Immature female stone crab and 
bleached out starfish on beach

The 2022 Master Naturalist Association annual meeting took place on Friday, March 25 at Hilton Head Plantation. The appetizer for naturalists was a beach walk at Dolphin Head Beach, looking for birds and  marine life. A good bit of erosion has taken place at this location recently, and gouged earth rubbing against beach sand illustrates that nicely. In the surf zone was a good bit of rack, or debris form the estuary including whip coral, crab carcass, oyster shells, driftwood and sponges. A boneyard beach littered with dead palmettos and pines in a twisted and rotting heap make a natural point to turn around an head back.

Wood Stork with different markings.
 Possibly an older bird?

Naturalist Carlos talks about beach erosion

At the water's edge we saw a Forster's Tern hovering overhead, and an osprey flew by too. A Snowy egret  hunting minnows was in a gully, and just past the beach in a spartina marsh we saw a Tricolor heron. A nearby Wood Stork had some unusual markings, and our conclusion was that this was an older bird and no longer in their prime for plumage. An elevated boardwalk is in place for those that do not wish to traverse the sand and possibly get their feet wet. A main course of smoked oysters and barbecue was served at the Spring Lake Pavilion, enjoyed in the company of fellow Master Naturalists.

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 2022 Bear Island WMA - 2022 Widgeon Point - 2022 Port Royal Sound Foundation / Nature Trail - 2022 Parris Island Birding - 2021 Palmetto Bluff Christmas Bird Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA Birding - 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge- 2021 Nemours Plantation / Fall Birding - 2021 Coastal Exploration / South Fenwick Island - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Lighthouse and Beach - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Wildlife Sightings - 2021 Coastal Exploration / Bennett's Point- 2021 Edisto Canoe and Kayak Commission - 2021 Congaree / Swamp Plants - 2021 Congaree - Swamp Critters - 2021 Furman University - 2021 Givhans Ferry State Park -  2021 Spring Island - Reptiles and Amphibians - 2021 Spring Island / Plants and Insects - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Wildlife - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2021 Beidler Forest / Flora and Fauna - 2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake - 2021 Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021 Nemours Plantation Birding 

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