2022 Hunting Island State Park - Turtle Patrol

Probing for Nest # 20 with Master Naturalists 

On Monday May 23 a group of Master Naturalists joined the Friends of Hunting Island Turtle Patrol at dawn to search for new loggerhead turtle nests. Our group recorded two new nests, No. 19 and 20, plus one false crawl. Both nests were high enough into the dunes, and above high tide levels, that they did not to be moved. Turtle Patrol did install wire fencing to defense against digging predators, and they celebrated that nesting activity in 2022 is trending upwards. Turtle Boss Buddy told me that they should know by the end of June if the nesting activity is sustained. 

Volunteer at Nest Site

To view past blog entries from Turtle Patrol click on 2021 Town of Edisto Beach - 2019 Town of Kiawah Island - 2016 Seabrook Island 

To view past blog entries on Sea Turtles click SCDNR Sea Turtle Trawl - TurtleFest at Edisto Beach State Park -  Leatherback Sighting - World Sea Turtle Day - SC Aquarium Sea Turtle Release 

To view past blog entries from Hunting Island click on 2021 Lighthouse / Beach - 2021 Wildlife Sightings - 2017 Reopens after Matthew

To view past blog entries about S.C. State Parks click on  Barnwell - Hickory Knob - Huntington Beach - Hampton Plantation - Edisto Beach 
  

A picturesque location for a turtle nest (left)

Peggy Willenberg and Marci-Anne Leysen,
with Master Naturalist Jeff Dennis

2022 S.C. Mahi Series - Shady Lady Wins

Team Shady Lady wins the 2022 SC Mahi Series

The 2022 S.C. Mahi Series was fished during the month of May using the unique format of fishing teams choosing their days to fish, and needing the heaviest two-fish aggregate weight in order to win. The Awards ceremony on Sunday May 29 at Pioneer Boats in Walterboro drew anglers from Murrell's Inlet, Charleston, Edisto, Beaufort and Hilton Head to enjoy fellowship over a meal and to enjoy live music by Andrew Beam. Patriotic cupcakes  were served up for dessert in honor of Memorial Day.

Lady Angler from 3rd Place Sea Runner

Captain Landon Seigler of Edisto led his team to the First Place payday of $15K in his boat named the Shady Lady. Seigler and his father and crewman Zane Bedenbaugh went fishing on May 5th in a frothy ocean, and encountered multiple weedlines, but in an effort to reach deeper waters they pushed onward into the the deep blue sea. His Father called for a pit stop and they decided to begin fishing and immediately had several knockdowns and boated a teenager dolphin. After Seigler reset all the lines, a huge mahi piled on a bait, and Seigler said it came out of the water and shook its head. A Chinese Fire Drill ensued as Seigler drove the boat while reeling in and clearing two other lines. They had the leader to the rod tip four times but the big mahi never tired, and when they did gaff the mahi it took two men to haul hit aboard. The 61.1-pound mahi caused a celebration at sea, but they continued to fish and boated a second mahi, that gave them the winning aggregate weight of 85.3-pounds. Congrats!

Pioneer Boats are a Sponsor of the HUK Salt Series

Second place went to Foolish Pleasure from Murrell's Inlet. Third place went to Sea Runner from Mt. Pleasant. Fourth Place went to Liquidated Damages from Walterboro. 

To view past blog entries from the S.C. Mahi Series click on 2021 

Tourney Organizer Marc Pincus
and 4th Place Ian Padgett of Walterboro

To view past blog entries from the Edisto Dolphin Slam click 2022 - 2019 - 2018 - 2016 

To view past blog entries on migratory dolphin off S.C. click 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009 - 2007

2022 Botany Bay WMA - Spring Birding Trip

First Year Male Orchard Oriole

The SCDNR Birding by Trailer Series continues to Roll Strong, and the Saturday May 21 outing took place in cloudy and comfortable weather. Bess Kellett greeted everyone with her clipboard checklist of registered attendees, and she drove the pick up truck that towed the trailer around the driving tour at this property. 

The dove field stop yielded a ground dove sighting, and that was a Life Bird for several visitors to the Lowcountry. Painted buntings, bluebirds and kingbirds were a few of the other birds in this open agricultural field. The next stop by the beach kiosk yielded a First year Male Orchard Oriole which was a first for this lifelong birder. The distinctive black patch on the throat was a clear giveaway of this birds identity, and Bess shared that an Orchard Oriole nest was known to be in that area.

Birding Group working to identify birds

Some nondescript birds were sighted this day including the female red-winged blackbird and the juvenile brown-headed cowbird, and this is when the collective experience in any group is valuable, because getting stumped on a birding identification is frustrating.

To view past blog entries on Birding Trips click on 2022 Nemours / Spring - 2022 Harbor Island / Spring - 2022 Audubon Silver Bluff / Spring - 2022 Phinizy Swamp / Spring - 2022 Oldfield / Spring - 2022 Widgeon Point / Winter Birding - 2022 Parris Island / Winter Birding - 2021 Palmetto Bluff / Christmas Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA / Winter 

Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird

Female Red-winged Blackbird

 

2022 Edisto Dolphin Slam - Fortunate Son Wins

Fortunate Son Wins Dolphin Slam

The Edisto Dolphin Slam was good to go in 2022, after a hiatus since 2019 due to Covid, and after a brief wind delay pushing the fishing dates back, from May 7 to May 21 - 22. 

The Edisto Cobia tourney will be fished June 4 and the Edisto Billfish Tourney on July 21 - 23.

First place Dolphin weighed 64.6-pounds caught by Fortunate Son.

Second place Dolphin weighed 21.6-pounds caught by Holy Mackerel

Third place Dolphin weighed 21-pounds caught by Chugger

T-Shirts are for Sale at Ships Store

Lady Angler Award - Avery Price with a 20-pound Dolphin caught by Salt Dust

Youth Angler Award - Michael Blanchard with a 21.6-pound Dolphin

To view past blog entries from the Edisto Dolphin Slam click on 2019 - 2018 - 2016 

Lady Angler

To view past blog entries from the Edisto Cobia Tourney click on 2016

To view past blog entries from Edisto Billfish Tourney click on 2021 -  2019- 2018- 2017- 2016- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 

2022 Nemours Wildlife Foundation - Spring Birding

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks circle the pothole

The birding expedition led by biologist Beau Bauer began at 9 a.m. and started out in an open air wagon towed behind a pickup truck. With droughty conditions in place, this trip around the grounds at Nemours Wildlife Foundation brought a little more uncertainty. But once again the bird species seem to be able to tolerate both dry and wet conditions equally, and the total number of bird species encountered this day was over 50, which is about the normal amount. 

Cormorant on the dock

Our stop at a brackish water impoundment was quick to yield several species of birds right around the dock including cormorant, barn swallow and least tern. A bald eagle was situated in a towering pine and simply overlooking the whole scene of gallinules, wood ducks and wading birds that reside here. Of course other wildlife can be spotted when everyone has optics handy and several alligators were located, plus a grasshopper and dragonfly. 

The final leg of our trip before noon saw the birding friends carpool to a place on the property that was off the beaten path, behind a gate, and filled with water despite the dry conditions. This place proved to be the motherlode of unique species for our day which included the prothonotary warbler and black-bellied whistling ducks. Wood ducks and great blue herons were also in this swamp filled with green duckweed on the water's surface. A brief tailgate gathering finished our day, just long enough to enjoy home-made brownies and chex mix that allowed us a moment to reflect, before getting on with the remainder of a long summer day.

To view past blog entries from Nemours Wildlife Foundation click on

Barn Swallow

2022 Oyster Roast / New Director - 2021 Fall Birding - 25th Anniversary / New Science Lab - 2021 Spring Birding -  2018 Waterfowl Workshop - 2017 Wounded Warrior Deer Hunt - 2014 Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers - 2014 USDA Under Secretary - 2013 Waterfowl Warrior Hunt - 2012 Army Corps of Engineers - 2011 Mottled Duck Study - 2010 Plantation Managers Meeting - 2009 Toyota Donation

To view past blog entries from Friends of Nemours click on 2017- 2014- 2013 - 2012

Our Birding Group on May 17, 2022

2022 Cumberland Island - Wildlife Sightings

Piebald Fawn Bedded Down

To say that we experienced a diversity of flora and fauna at Cumberland Island would be an understatement, as each trail leads one past intact ecosystems full of wonder. A strain of piebald deer is found on Cumberland Island and we were fortunate to find a piebald fawn, bedded down where Mama left it, but hiding in plain sight due to its white coloration. It is natural for does to leaves fawns bedded while they move around to graze, and the fawn was not in distress and never made any movement. Such a rare treat to see, and this encounter speaks to the Wow-factor awaiting you once you set foot on Cumberland Island National Seashore.

To view past blog entries from Cumberland Island click on  Beach Treasures - Dungeness Mansion Ruins - Wild Horses

Gopher Tortoise Cruising By

Giant Fiddler Crab

Beach Lizard

2022 Cumberland Island - Wild Horses

Free Range Foal

Feral Horses are a part of the history of Cumberland Island, and they are still present today. The National Park Service can estimate about 100 horses present today, but in the past a herd of 200 horses and some mules were kept by residents. These horses can be seen grazing at the grounds of the Dungeness Mansion ruins, and at the ferry docks, or any other areas that is mowed and maintained by the Park Service. Of course they also live off the land and consume wild growth, but the maritime forest and sand dunes produce a meager diet. The horses are on their own for water and food, and receive no veterinary care so natural stressors and age are key factors in mortality rates.

Using and Oak Tree for a Neck Scratch

To view past blog entries from Cumberland Island click on Beach Treasures - Dungeness Mansion Ruins - Wildlife Sightings

Not Skinny but Not Fat Either

To view past blog entries about feral horses click on Corolla / OBX 

Grazing at Dungeness Ruins

Family Time

2022 Cumberland Island - Beach Treasures

Royal Starfish

Cumberland Island has 17 miles of the most pristine front beach that exists on the Atlantic Ocean. The lack of development on the island has left the dune system that guards the beach in excellent health. These sand dunes possess a combination of the finest characteristics, from all of the best dunes, this lifelong Lowcountry resident has ever witnessed. A boardwalk exists to get visitors through the maritime forest edge, and then a simple sand path leads one to the beach. It was low tide during my visit and it was a long way from the dunes to the waterline, since this beach is quite wide. Nesting loggerhead sea turtles flock to Cumberland Island National Seashore because it is so intact and does not have any light pollution at night.

Royal Terns

Lightning Whelk

The beach was not crowded, but our group was certainly not the only one visiting on this Friday. We sat on the beach to eat lunch after hiking about 2-miles to get there. Then we walked a mile or so at the waters edge and searched for shells while intermingling with a host of shorebirds and terns. Everyone took turns sharing any knowledge they had about the whelks, crabs, worms and birds that we encountered. No shells were taken from the beach, and living creatures were respectfully placed at the water's edge. Offshore storms associated with a Low pressure system provided a curtain of billowing clouds with black curtains of rainfall beneath them. Yet our day on the beach was not marred by rain, wind, or storms and it was certainly a bit of Cumberland Island magic. I sure wished I had my surf fishing gear with me!

To view past blog entries from Cumberland Island click on Dungeness Mansion  - Wild Horses - Wildlife Sightings

To view past blog entries from beaches click on Harbor Island - Dolphin Head - Hunting Island State Park - Fish Haul Beach - 2020 Botany Bay WMA - 2019 Kiawah Island - 2016 Seabrook Island - 2015 Little St. Simon's Island - 2015 Holden Beach - 2015 Sunset Beach - 2015 Ocean Isle - 2015 Oak Island - 2015 Edisto Beach State Park - 2015 Folly Beach- 2014 Bald Head Island - 2013 Corolla Beach - 2013 Ocracoke Island - 2013 Kill Devil Hills - 2010 Myrtle Beach State Park - 2010 Pawley's Island - 2009 Huntington Beach State Park 

Oystercatcher and Sanderling

Sand Crab

2022 Cumberland Island - Dungeness Mansion Grounds

Dungeness Mansion Ruins Circa 1896

My first ever visit to Cumberland Island on Friday May 13, 2022 was with a group of outdoor enthusiasts from the Lowcountry. Our guide Jill Moore booked the tickets on the 9 a.m. ferry to Cumberland Island, and we lodged the night before at the historic Riverview Hotel in St. Mary's, Georgia.  Upon reaching Cumberland Island, all 36,000-acres of it, a logical first stop is the Dungeness Mansion ruins since they are near to the ferry landing. The history that exudes from the stone skeleton structure tells of a time when gentle folks found barrier island lifestyle to be very appealing. They may have been on to something!!

Our guide tells the history of Dungeness

Cumberland Island is famous for being owned by the prestigious Carnegie Family, but Dungeness was home to other prominent families before that. British Parliament member James Oglethorpe built a hunting lodge on this spot in 1736, then Revolutionary War hero Nathaneal Greene resided here and owned 11,000-acres. Henry Lee resided there in 1818 and was the father of Robert E. Lee, and then in the 1880's Thomas Carnegie built the Dungeness Mansion that still shares his legacy with visitors today. These ruins definately reminded me of the Barnsley Manor ruins in the foothills of Georgia.

Tabby ruins and marshy vistas at Dungeness

The remains of many outbuildings sprawl across the Dungeness grounds with cisterns, tabby walls, brick chimneys and distinctive gates. The entire site is groomed by the National park Service today which makes for easy walking, but it also displays how grand the courtyard for the mansion would have been. Considering that this is an island jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean and not particularly close to a port on the mainland, this demonstrates a strong resolve and deep pockets to achieve such an outpost. To this day, there is a single road that connects one end of the island to the other, and sandy trails remain the

Historic Photo of Dungeness Mansion

most common routes traveled.

To view other blog entries from Cumberland Island click on Beach Treasures - Wild Horses - Wildlife Sightings

An active Osprey nest at ruins

The Riverview Hotel - St. Mary's GA.

The Patio offers panoramic views and a sea breeze

The historic Riverview Hotel in St. Mary's, Georgia is on the Cumberland River waterfront directly across from the Cumberland Island Ferry. Built in 1916, guests who enjoy the deep brown hardwood floors and the entire throwback wooden construction will be very pleased. Both sturdy and inviting, the Riverview Inn invites one to check for what's around the next corner, such as a bonus sitting room. Those lucky enough to find the second floor porch, can relax in rocking chairs while overlooking St. Mary's.

My Room No. 16 - Roy Crane (No Room 13 here!)

Seagle's Seafood Restaurant and outdoor saloon are attached to the Riverview Hotel. Live music takes place in the outside space during afternoons, and relaxed but tasteful dining takes place inside the dining room. My serving of blackened bourbon bacon salmon was served with sides of asparagus and grits, and my server recommended a French Malbec to pair with my meal. Their kitchen will also prepare a lunch for those traveling to Cumberland Island on the morning ferry, just order the night before and pick it up on the way out the door. My sandwich was ample and tasty and was later consumed on the front beach of Cumberland Island, with a side of delicious panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Extra seating area displays hardwood floors

To view past blog entries about Lodging with outdoor adventures click on Gross Savanne / Lake Charles, LA - Orchard Inn / Saluda, NC - Partridge Inn / Augusta, GA - Belmont Inn / Abbesville, SC -  Planters Inn / Savannah, GA - Lonesome Valley / Cashiers, NC - Barnsley Resort / Adairsville, GA - Little St. Simon's GA - Wanna B Inn / Englewood, FL - Old McCaskill Farm, Rembert, SC - River Palms / Jenson beach, FL - Bald Head Island / South Port, NC - Redfish Lodge / Rockport, TX - Tarpon Lodge / Pine Island, FL  

Riverview Hotel in St. Mary's GA.

To view blog entries from Cumberland Island click on Dungeness Mansion Ruins -  Beach Treasures - Wild Horses - Wildlife Sightings

2022 Harbor Island - Nature Trail Birding

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 

Little Blue Heron

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

Salt Marsh Overlook Station

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  - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

Snowy Egret nestled in bushes