2023 Edisto Beach - Fourth of July Parade

Feeling very Patriotic on the 4th!!

Myrtle St. and Mikell St. Start Line

The Edisto Beach Fourth of July Parade consists of almost 200 gold carts and assorted bicycle riders. The 10 a.m. start time makes it more of a family outing, and with Palmetto Blvd. being full of beach traffic, the parade runs on Myrtle Street, starting at Mikell Street. The freedom to watch a parade is very popular at Edisto with many spectators lining the route, despite the summer heat of a sunny day. The parade was followed by the Stature To The Shore patriotic jet plane fly by at 1 p.m. along the coastline. 

The more Flags the Better on the 4th of July

Uncle Sam and Friends!

To view past parades click on 2021 Edisto Christmas Parade - 2022 Saluda Coon Dog Day - 2009 Pawley's Island 4th of July 

Silver King Makes Splash at Newly Reopened Folly Pier

Published in the July Issue of Trilogy Outdoors (click on Pic for Larger Image)

 To view past blog entries from Trilogy Outdoors click S.C. Mahi Series - 2023 Yawkey Wildlife Center - 2023 Hammock Coast Birding Festival - 2023 Lowcountry Oyster Festival - 2022 Sea Turtle Season - Navigating an S.C. Public Draw Deer Hunt - Crappie Camp - Blessings of a Sporting Father

To view past blog entries for S.C. Tarpon click on 2022 Tarpon bluff Invitational -  S.C. Tarpon Law - Ultimate Tarpon Book - DOA Writer's Event - Tide magazine/ CCA article - My First Tarpon / 2010

2023 Birding Journal Observations - May / June

Red-bellied woodpecker, 
female summer tanager and cardinal

The month of May brought cooler than normal conditions, and the month of June brought wetter than normal conditions, before returning to hot summer weather just before July. The net effect on bird sightings was negligible, meaning the birds have followed their usual patterns of migration and nesting. Plenty of bluebirds, Carolina wrens, cardinals, mockingbirds and more have reproduced this Spring. The neotropical migratory birds that stick around during the summer are no doubt doing the same, albeit in a bit more secretive way, including ruby-throated hummingbird, painted bunting, summer tanager and blue grosbeak.

All manner of woodpecker can be observed during late Spring including red-headed woodpecker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker and even Northern flicker. The swallow-tailed kites and Mississippi kites have appeared on their regular timetable, making casual observers gaze in awe at their special type of flight pattern known as Kiting! Big raptors like osprey and owls are also reproducing and photographers on the water or in the woodlands document these special top-tier predators. 

Male painted bunting and red-headed woodpecker

To view the latest Birding Journal Observations click on March / April 2023

To view past Birding Journal Observations for May / June click on 2021 - 2018- 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010 - 2009

To view 2023 Birding Trips click on Sea Island Shorebird Festival - Beidler Forest - Harbor Island -  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

2023 S.C. Mahi Series - Go Jolly Wins

 

Published in the June issue of Trilogy Outdoors (Click on pic for larger image)

To view past blog entires from S.C. Mahi Series click on 2022 - 2021

To view past blog entries from Edisto Dolphin Slam click on 2023 - 2022 - 2019- 2018 - 2016 

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

To view my past stories from Trilogy Outdoors click on 2023 Yawkey Wildlife Center - 2023 Hammock Coast Birding Festival - 2023 Lowcountry Oyster Festival - 2022 Sea Turtle Season - Navigating an S.C. Public Draw Deer Hunt - Crappie Camp - Blessings of a Sporting Father

2023 Lowcountry Land Trust - Combahee Ferry Raid at Fields Point

Chef BJ Dennis shares the Gullah Geecheee Menu

The Lowcountry Open land Trust (LLT) partnered with the Mitchelville Freedom Park and the Slave Dwelling Project to hold a gathering at Fields Point to discuss Harriet Tubman and the Combahee Ferry Raid 160 years ago. Fields Point public boat landing is on the Cambahee River, and is adjacent to Cheehaw-Combahee Plantation which is under conservation easement with LLT. About 30 guests gathered at the high bluff at Fields Point for a diner catered by Chef BJ Dennis of Gullah Geechee Cuisine, and then  heard a talk from Dr. Edda Fields-Black about the historical facts from the raid.

View of Combahee River from Fields Point boat ramp

A gentle Northeast wind was blowing, and afternoon temperatures remained comfortable for this outdoor dinner and meeting. This gathering was just one during a three-day celebration in Beaufort County of the Combahee Ferry Raid, and drew people from as far away as Columbia, and all across the Lowcountry. The Combahee River is very wide at this point and it was quite calm, but a moonlit boat ride 160 years ago would have been a harrowing undertaking, and it helps to look out from Fields Point to understand this. History was at a turning point that night, and the participants of that raid likely did not know of the historical role they would play.

Dr. Fields-Black addresses our informal gathering

 

To view past blog entries from LLT click on  2022 Brosnan Forest Sporting Clays - 2021 White House Plantation Sporting Clays - 2011 Picnic at Lavington Plantation - 2011 Annual Meeting - 2010 Picnic at Center for Birds of Prey - 2009 Annual Meeting - 2009 Picnic at Brosnan Forest / More Brosnan Pics - 2009 Colleton Soil and Water Awards 

To view past blog entries regarding Gullah Geechee click on 2021 Queen Quet - 2012 Bill Green

2023 Lowcountry Landowners Association - Holly Bluff Plantation

Dr. Andrew Bridges from Nemours
addresses the Landowners

The Lowcountry Landowners Association was formed in 2018 as an advocacy group for forestry and conservation practices in Colleton, Beaufort, Hampton and Jasper Counties. The 2023 membership meeting was hosted on May 18 by Holly Bluff Plantation and Crosby Land Company. Owner Todd Crosby welcomed members to meet at his residence outside of Walterboro, and to hear from leadership about the state of the ACE Basin after 30 years of land conservation. 

Entrance Gate to Holly Bluff Plantation

          

Chris Campbell of Sheldon is the Chair of the Lowcountry Landowners Board and he spoke first. “I want to recognize Clemson extension agent Janet Steele for all her contributions to our leadership,” said Campbell. “Our landowners have a variety of interests including timber harvest, pine-straw harvest, and hunting clubs, plus family recreational pursuits in the outdoors. Our membership continues to grow each year as our mission of advocacy is heard.”

            

Joe Hamilton of Hendersonville, worked with SCDNR as a biologist before founding an organization focused on managing white-tailed deer, and addressed the ACE Basin. “The Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers comprise the main boundary for The Ace Basin, but we are certainly growing outside of that area now,” said Hamilton. “The initial goal of conserving 300,000-acres of land between Charleston and Hilton Head has been achieved and now we look forward to broadening what Aldo Leopold refers to as a ‘Blank Spot’ on the Map.” The list of conservation groups that partner together in this type effort is extensive, running the gamut from governmental entities to grass roots players, like the Edisto Island Open Land Trust.

To view past blog entries from the Lowcountry Landowners click on 2022 - 2020 - 2019 - 2018 

To view past blog entries about landowner meetings click on  2016 Kershaw County Landowners - 2016 Longleaf Alliance - 2014 Quail Habitat Workshop - 2011 Tri-County Forestry Association - ACE Basin - S.C. Prescribed Fire Council - Savannah River Preserve - Herbicide - Mayfield Garden Club

2023 Sea Islands Shorebirds Festival / Kiawah and Seabrook (and Edisto)

Inaugural Signage at Freshfields

Kiawah and Seabrook are the barrier islands just North of Edisto, and they organized the first Sea Island Shorebirds Festival on May 11. A Birder’s Breakfast hosted by the Kiawah Conservancy included a presentation on the migration habits of shorebirds. When these shorebirds spend part of their Spring at our beaches, they are feeding heavily and resting up to continue migrating. Volunteers known as Shorebird Stewards watch out for shorebirds on the beach at Kiawah and Seabrook, and Edisto has recently enrolled in the same program at Botany Bay WMA beach and the S.C. State Park beach. 

Kiawah Conservancy trip

All these places post signage on the beach to mark nesting areas, asking beachgoers to stay out of these areas. Dogs are required to be on a leash at Edisto starting May 1, mainly due to nesting turtle season but also for shorebirds. Edisto Police Chief Seyle says to call 1-843-549-2211 to report dogs off leash. The shorebirds can be frightened by roaming dogs, and they need to focus on the task of locating food sources like horseshoe crab eggs. It’s not unusual to see several different species of shorebirds resting together on the beach, and the best way to enjoy viewing them is with binoculars, so they don’t act nervous or fly off.

Shorebirds including Red Knots and Dunlin at Seabrook

The Sea Islands Shorebirds Festival featured guided walks in multiple locations, and I was able to view the shorebirds adjacent to The Ocean Course at Kiawah. The North end of Kiawah’s beach is growing, and these remote sandbars are a hotspot for shorebirds and wading birds. The Seabrook Island Birders Club organized a trip to the North end of Seabrook led by SCDNR's Janet Thibeaux to view Captain Sam’s Spit, another natural beach formation that shorebirds love spending time at. Off the southern tip of Seabrook is Deveaux Bank, which is now cherished as a protected roost that is home to shorebirds, as well as the brown pelicans that are seen flying up and down Edisto beach all day long. 

Field Trip to The Ocean Course

To view past blog entries on Shorebirds click on 2022 Harbor Island Shorebird Walk - 2020 Shorebird Protection on Botany Bay WMA -  2018 Shorebirds Talk at Seabrook Island Birders -  2017 Shorebird Symposium by Kiawah Conservancy - 2016 Spring Shorebird Synergy - 2016 The Narrow Edge Book Review - 2015 Manomet Workshop at Yawkey Preserve - 2015 World Shorebird Day - 2014 Moon Bird Book Review - 2014 / Inaugural World Shorebird Day

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