2024 Beidler Forest and Audubon Center - BioBlitz

River Otter at rest at Beidler Forest on 10/12

The hardwood bottomland ecosystem at the Francis Beidler Forest and Audubon Center hosted the BioBlitz on October 12 and invited guest naturalists and also welcomed to public to participate.

The gates to Beidler Forest open at 9 AM and master naturalist Kerri Barrett was volunteering to help, and assigned the task of heading to the oxbow lake and deploying a fish trap to try and attract aquatic life. A cool snap brought the overnight temperatures down to 45-degrees, and I was able to join Barrett on her trek down the boardwalk to the lake. Wildlife observations are best in the mornings and since we were the first to set foot on the boardwalk we quickly spotted a doe deer, two otters taking a morning swim, wild turkeys and a wood stork resting in a cypress tree.

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

Inaugural Beidler BioBlitz 10/12/24

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on October Conservation Calendar -  October Saltwater Forecast -  Birds of a Feather Toast-  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 October Conservation Calendar

October is filled with activities promoting the outdoors in Charleston, from tournaments to fundraisers. Here is a look at four fun ones:

Southern Sailfish Derby tournament

Botany Bay WMA Hawk Watch Day Oct. 26

Charleston Ducks Unlimited Fall Banquet Oct. 18

Wingspan Fall Gala to benefit Center for Birds of Prey Oct. 27

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on October Saltwater Forecast -  Birds of a Feather Toast-  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 October Saltwater Fishing Forecast

Capt. Ryan Moscow with a Bull Redfish

It could be that the best inshore fishing in October doesn’t even involve a boat. This is the most productive month of the year for surf fishing for red drum from the beach, and they don’t call it ‘Red October’ for nothing. In fact, the entire inshore fishery turns on as the water slowly begins to cool after the hot summer months. 

The best bet for offshore fishing is for sailfish, a smaller species of billfish that offers just as much sport for anglers. The Inaugural Sailfish Derby out of Toler’s Cover Marina will be fished October 8 – 12 with teams competing for the most sailfish releases.

To view the entire fishing report for October click on Tideline.

To view past fishing forecasts in Tideline click on  July - June - May - April

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Birds of a Feather Toast -  Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Birds of a Feather Toast at Caw Caw

There is quite a bevy of birding options in the Lowcountry and the Fall season is a great time to test your abilities to identify migratory songbirds and raptors. The birding community goes beyond the conservation crowd because it includes youths, newbies, folks who recently moved here as well as knowledgeable veteran birders. Charleston County Parks understands this well and wants to build on their twice-weekly birding walks at Caw Caw Interpretive Center by introducing the inaugural Birds of a Feather Toast this Saturday Sept. 28 from 5 to 7. 

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view Birding blog entries from 2024 click on Carolina Bird Club - Earth Day / Kiawah - Spring Island - Southeast Shorebird Festival - Hammock Coast Birding Festival - Huntington Beach State Park - Yawkey Center - Yemassee CBC - Edisto CBC 

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Photography Tips - Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Tips for Budding Outdoor Photographers

Pole Position Pelican

When the photography bug bites, the outdoors offers a multitude of pursuits. Flowers, wildlife and birds in flight are some of the most popular subjects. Modern camera equipment comes ready to take lots of photos, including a rapid-fire burst mode, but those results can sometimes be hit or miss.

As it turns out, dialing in the cameras settings is the tried and true method for taking better photos outside. Practice making photos in the field, and then reviewing the images, helps one to explore those options. Eventually an outdoor photographer will build up a muscle memory around what works best, and develop habits that will deliver sharper images on cue.

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Riton Optics - Lighthouse Inlet Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Riton Optics Helps Target the Outdoors

Binoculars and a spotting scope
plus a Bird ID book are a great combo

The end of September welcomes many deer hunters back into the woods with the start of doe harvest season, but the preparation of deer stands and sighting in of hunting rifles begins much earlier. When a hunting buddy offered a chance for me to view a new rifle scope by Riton Optics he acquired for this coming deer season, I was game. Manufactured in Arizona, Riton Optics is about ten years old and they also make binoculars and a spotting scope that are excellent for birdwatching during the Fall migratory warbler season.

To view the feature article in the Post and Courier click on Tideline.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve -  Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots

2024 Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve

Bobcat sighting at Lighthouse Inlet on August 22

Growing up in Charleston, summer vacation usually included a week’s stay at Folly Beach near the famed Washout. The beach was wider back then, and the rock groins offered a linear jungle gym of options for youthful pursuits. A buddy and I could tote a 48-quart cooler to the beach by taking one handle each, and then carry fishing rods and a dip net in our free hands. Filled with ice, bait and can soda drinks in the morning, the cooler would eventually be filled with blue crabs and whiting by the afternoon. It’s hard to quantify the amount of joy we experienced by soaking chicken necks and smoked herring at the water’s edge, but the natural resources then were both bountiful and beautiful. 

The best spot at Folly Beach to enjoy all three outdoor pursuits of birding, shelling and fishing today is at the North end of the island. What is now known as the Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve Trail is a great place to spend as much time as possible.

To read my feature article in the Post and Courier click on Charleston Choice.

To view past blog entries from Tideline click on Coosawhatchie WMA -  Holy City Tarpon Tourney - Int'l Fly Fishing Film Festival - Carolina Kingfish Classic -  Fishing For Mountain Trout -  Hooked On Miracles -  HMY Lowcountry Cup - Turkeys For Tomorrow-  Carolina Ladies Billfish Classic - Paddling For Pups Photos - 2024 Atlantic Cup - Silvopasture Forestry- Beidler Forest 50th Anniversary - Charleston Race Week Photos - Southeast Shorebird Festival - ACE Basin Day Photos - Santee Big Cat Brawl - Carolina Marsh Tacky Association - SEWE Photos - Five Birding Hotspots