2022 Harbor Island - Shorebird Beach Walk

148 Red Knots in a flock on Harbor Island

The folks at Harbor Island have a gated community that values the natural resources associated with beachfront real estate. A pristine beach attracts nesting sea turtles, horseshoes crabs and lots of birds ranging from bald eagles to tiny shorebirds. On Tuesday, April 26th the Fripp Island Audubon Club completed a short island-hop over to Harbor Island in order to join host Peggy Lucas for a beach walk. This time of year is perfect for spotting migratory shorebirds and the group had several notable sightings.

Piping Plover with orange leg flag on upper left leg

After crossing an expansive sand dune complex running from the condos to the beach, we gazed across a small gully on the beach to see a flock of shorebirds. It did not take long for them to pick up, and take flight, and leave the area but not before being identified as Red Knots! These birds are being studied now, and are massing at Kiawah Island each year, and sightings like this one are reported up the chain of command. Next up was a FIRST for me spotting a Piping Plover with a leg band on it. This bird can be identified by the color of the leg band (orange) and that information is also reported. The beach walk continued with Whimbrel, Godwit, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle and many more and then finished strong with a pair of Wilson's Plovers likely nesting in a section of dunes marked off 'For Shorebirds Only.'

Scopes and Optics are a must when Shorebirding

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 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 

To view blog entries from 2021 field trips click 2021 Palmetto Bluff Christmas Bird Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA Birding - 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge- 2021 Nemours Plantation / Fall Birding - 2021 Coastal Exploration / South Fenwick Island - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Lighthouse and Beach - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Wildlife Sightings - 2021 Coastal Exploration / Bennett's Point- 2021 Edisto Canoe and Kayak Commission - 2021 Congaree / Swamp Plants - 2021 Congaree - Swamp Critters - 2021 Furman University - 2021 Givhans Ferry State Park -  2021 Spring Island - Reptiles and Amphibians - 2021 Spring Island / Plants and Insects - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Wildlife - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2021 Beidler Forest / Flora and Fauna - 2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake - 2021 Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021 Nemours Plantation Birding

A male Wilson's Plover in the dunes marked
For Shorebirds Only!

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015

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Whimbrel

Water Tower at Front Gate