2025 Yemassee - Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Barn Owl on the Wing

The Second Annual Yemassee CBC took place on Jan. 3 under near freezing AM conditions, that gave way to sunny, brisk and windy conditions after lunch. My team was made up of Master Naturalists from Spring Island and our first stop at dawn was Buckfield Pond to count waterfowl. A larger flight of wood ducks than in our count the previous year, got out count numbers off to a good start. The pond was dried than usual and a nearby water control structure had been damaged by Hurricane Helene, and the paved road was closed for a time to make those repairs. We still picked up gallinule, Wilson's Snipe and a few other assorted marsh birds.

Heading into mature pine uplands to search fro Bachman's sparrows and woodpeckers was fruitful, and gopher tortoise burrows dotted the landscape. Another hotspot in a powerline allowed for viewing of woodland songbirds, raptors and some wood ducks. At our next stop the resident Barn Owl that gave us the slip in 2024, was more obliging and everyone saw the grey ghost winging through the pine trees. While I was dispatched to take our report to Bray's Island during the 1 PM round up by organizer Jake Zadik, this team stayed in the field and made this Ebird list for the Yemassee CBC. A total of 132 bird species was counted, which is the same exact number as in 2024!! (including Sandhill cranes each year)

Cold weather sky at dawn over Buckfield Pond

To view my feature article in the Post and Courier on the 2025 Christmas Bird Count click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Yemassee CBC click on 2024

To view past blog entries from the Palmetto Bluff CBC click on 2024 - 2023 - 2022 - 2021 

To view past birding trips from 2024 click on  Stono Preserve - Beidler Forest - Carolina Bird Club -  Earth Day / Kiawah - Spring Island - Southeast Shorebird Festival - Hammock Coast Birding Festival - Huntington Beach State Park - Yawkey Center