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

New Year's Eve Toast to 2025

Lifelong Saltwater Angler at Work on Dec. 25

This is my 17th Annual Toast to following the outdoors trail and bringing my stories and photos to like-minded folks. The season cycle continues annually, but the whiplash weather cycles can make those seasons harder to identify so with all things in life we must adjust. This makes most serious outdoors people amateur weather watchers also. Besides, being out in the extreme cold or in some other inclement weather can also add flavor to your tale of outdoor adventure. 

I remain grateful to the publications and organizations that chose to work with this veteran writer and photographer in 2025. Hunting and Fishing subject matter is always fun, but Conservation stories may prove to be the most valuable as we fight to protect and save unspoiled outdoors places. Cheers to South Carolina Wildlife magazine and the SCDNR, Mossy Oak Gamekeepers magazine, Tideline (online) with the Post and Courier and Scuttlebutt SE boating magazine.

To view past blog entries from my New Year's Eve Toast click on 2024 - 2023 -

- 2022 - 2021 - 2020- 2019- 2018- 2017- 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 

Leading Master Naturalist group through Santee NWR