2023 Harbor Island - Shorebird Beach Walk

Wilson's Plover in remnant marsh

The Fripp Island Audubon group enjoyed its annual outing to Harbor Island on April 25, thanks to resident Peggy Lucas. The conditions this morning were very tough for birding on the beach, with a 20 m.p.h. Northeast wind blowing the ocean water up onto the beach. Despite the wind blowin' a gale, plenty of shorebirds were seen including dunlin with breeding patch on display. Willet stayed at the water's edge, while black-bellied plovers occupied drier ground, and sanderlings mixed in everywhere. Some ruddy turnstones were investigating a horseshoe crab carcass, and a pair of Wilson's Plovers dared us to cross into their territory. Ospreys hovered but did not dive much due to the howling wind.

Willet at water's edge

Plan B was to visit a small lagoon on the island that is home to wading birds, and a rookery. This allowed us to see a green heron, black-crowned night herons, egrets on the nest, plus turtles and alligators. We could identify other birds that flew past including mourning dove, house finch, mockingbird and cardinal. A tour of the native plants in the community garden wrapped up our visit. 

To view past blog entries from Harbor Island click on 2022 Shorebird Walk - 2022 Nature Trail Birding

To view past Birding Field Trips for 2023 click on Kiawah Island -  Webb Wildlife Center - Whooping Crane Pond - Jarvis Creek Park - Caw Caw Bio Blitz -  Botany Bay WMA - Pinckney Island NWR - ACE Basin NWR Combahee Unit