Lowcountry outdoors: 2022 Harbor Island

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Black-crowned Night Heron

The folks at Harbor Island live in a gated community that values the natural resources associated with barrier islands. Local resident Peggy Lucas led a tour along their Nature Trail for the Fripp Island Audubon Club on April 26 which included the community garden, a saltwater creek overlook and a wading bird rookery. A Baltimore Oriole was spotted near the garden as well as a ground dove, and when walking between each stop many local backyard birds like house finch and blue jay were seen. The saltwater creek yielded views of a spartina marsh vista looking towards Beaufort, and red-winged blackbirds.

Cattle Egret

After a decent hike down a black-top road we arrived at a rookery that was bustling with activity. Great white egrets were already sitting on large nests in high branches, while smaller wading birds were just now making small stick nests, bunching together in shorter and bushier plant growth. Most time these birds are solitary when fishing, but during nesting season it is neat to see them all bunched together. Even the cattle egrets join in with the Snowy egrets, Tri-color herons, Little blue herons, Green herons, Black-crowned herons and Yellow-crowned herons. Here's hoping they have much reproductive success!

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 2022 Harbor Island / Shorebirds - 2022 Silver Bluff- 2022 Phinizy Swamp - 2022 Oldfield Outfitters - 2022 Dolphin Head Beach - 2022 Bear Island WMA - 2022 Widgeon Point - 2022 Port Royal Sound Foundation / Nature Trail - 2022 Parris Island Birding