2026 S.C. Mahi Awards - Team Lil' Hooker Wins

Jon Cameron, Chad Reese and Capt. John Rypczyk 

Congrats to Team Lil' Hooker out of Murrell's Inlet for winning the 2026 S.C. Mahi Series.  Capt. John Rypczyk, Jon Cameron and Chad Reese fished on a brand new 36-foot Yellowfin boat with triple Yamaha 350's and won their inaugural tourney. Their very first fish caught in the new boat came on Day One of their fish days on May 4 when a 38-pound mahi hit the deck at 6:26 AM and it ended up counting towards their winning two-fish aggregate. On their Day Two of fishing on May 20 they added a 48.6-pound stud mahi to their tally - and it ended up being good enough for First Place, They had a slick calm ocean on both days but on the second day Cameron did not get a textbook gaff on the big bull dolphin and it nearly got away right beside the boat. Luckily they can laugh about that twist of fate all the way to the bank today!

To view past blog entries from the S.C. Mahi Series Click on 2025 - 2024 - 2023 - 2022 - 2021

2026 Master Naturalist Hike at Dungannon

A morning hike

Peering down into a hardwood bottomland swamp

in Hollywood at Dunganon is a great way to view

Be on the lookout for critters

nature. 

 To view past blog entries about Master Naturalist  click on State Naturalist Programs - Walterboro Hike

2026 Birding Journal Observations - January / February

To view past birding

Egret and Ibis 

journal observations for Jan/Feb click on 2025 - 2024 - 2022- 2021 - 2020 - 2018-  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

2026 Tall Ship - Norway's Sorlandet

 Tall Ship on its 100th Anniversary cruise that stopped in the port of Charleston. Awesome!!

To view past blog entries on Tall Ships click on Spain's Nao Trinidad 

To view past blog entries from wooden boats click EOS - Windy - Grace- Aphrodite - Osprey - Annalee - Hinckley

To view past blog entries on Tall Ships click 2012 Savannah Challenge -  2009 Charleston HarborFest - Spirit of Carolina

 

Crew topside

2026 Yemassee - Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Birders in the pine savannah

The weather on Sunday January 4, 2026 was cold and clear, and a great day for birding. We began by dawn's early light watching for wood ducks and saw several hundred woodies. At the end of the day we visited a private impoundment and were delighted to see thousands of wood ducks. Whoopee!

To view past blog entries from the Yemassee CBC click on 2025 -  2024

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

Jackpot!  Barn Owl !!

Birders watching a waterfowl impoundment

 

  

2026 Edisto Island - Christmas Bird Count

Beach Birding

It was another cold way to start the New Year - but always a worthwhile endeavor to support Audubon and simply to gather together with like-minded friends in the pre-dawn for a full day of birding along the magical coastal edge of Edisto Island.

For past blog entries on the Edisto Bird Count click on 2025 -  2024 - 2023

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

To view past blog entries from the Yemassee CBC click on 2025 - 2024

 

Red-breasted merganser flock

Jackpot!   Marbled Godwit, Willet and Sanderlings.

2025 Birding Journal Observations - November / December

Hooded mergansers on New Year's Eve

Warm and dry conditions translated into incipient drought by Thanksgiving and into the New Year. Anytime it gets dry a bird bath or water source can be an excellent place to watch for birds. No significant changes in migration were evident though, and seasonal sightings continued on par heading into the Christmas Bird Count season.

For past Birding Journal Observations from November / December click on 2024 -  2023- 2022- 2021 - 2020 - 2018-  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

Yellow-bellied sapsucker on Dec. 6