Lowcountry outdoors: 2023 Nemours Wildlife Foundation

Thursday, November 30, 2023

2023 Nemours Wildlife Foundation - Fall Birding

Royal tern in non-breeding plumage

The Fripp Island Audubon Birders went to Nemours on Nov. 17 for a full morning of birding. Cooler temps and a NE breeze called for jacket weather but after some morning mist the coastal clouds fared off. Beau Bauer and Heather Krause from Nemours staff greeted everyone at the educational building complex and the birding began by observing the ponds behind them. Avocets were present in large number, like 100, and 4 black-necked stilts and 2 Stilt Sandpipers were mixed in with them - which is a home run for shorebirds. Some wading birds and waterfowl were scattered here, and the calling of a bald eagle could be heard.

Fripp Island Audubon Birders

The group loaded onto the Birding Wagon after that and took a driving tour of the property that included stops at impoundments and woodlands. A large flock of 200 - 300 blue-winged teal were present and other waterfowl species were mixed in including pintail, mottled, gadwall and ring-necked ducks. Non-game fowl included Pie-billed grebe, Common gallinule and American coot. Other notable species flying over the Combahee River watershed were White Pelicans and Roseate Spoonbills. At another inland impoundment we saw terns, kingfishers, and gulls patrolling the area. At a freshwater impoundment we saw scores of alligators waiting for the warm up that was coming after noon, which is about when our tour was complete.