birding...

Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus ©Robert Royse http://www.roysephotos.com/index.html

Despite its small size, South Carolina includes a wide variety of different habitats. And because of its small size, most of these can be visited in a relatively short time; the determined birder can visit both mountains and coastline in a single day.

Most of the best birding spots are along the coast. Even heavily developed areas like Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head are prone to landbird fallouts during migration. Huntington Beach State Park, not far from Myrtle Beach, is renowned as the state`s hottest hotspot, with abundant shorebirds, many waterfowl and landbirds, and good opportunities for observing marsh and ocean specialties; recent visitors have included White Wagtail and Smith`s Longspur. Further south, the Low Country is full of lush forests, massive river deltas, and beautiful barrier islands. Painted Buntings are common breeders, and Swallow-tailed Kites also nest in the region.

Santee and Savannah National Wildlife Refuges can both host large waterfowl concentrations in winter, while Pinckney Island NWR has wide variety of herons, egrets, and other waders which breed or visit. Bear Island Wildlife Management Area is well known for its collections of waterbirds of all stripes, from rails to terns. While no pelagic birding trips operate in the state, birders on offshore fishing boats have encountered Black-capped Petrels and Band-rumped Storm-petrels, among other species. On the inland side of the coastal plain is the Congaree Swamp National Monument, a dazzling patch of virgin forest with a great variety of trees and many huge individuals. This ancient forest hosts a great abundance of woodpeckers of every eastern species, formerly even including the Ivory-billed; Red-cockaded still nests in one part of the park, as does Swainson`s Warbler.

The Piedmont has few local specialties, and is the most heavily developed part of the state. However, the Congaree, Broad, and Saluda Rivers, among others, flow through this region, forming ribbons of rich riparian forest that harbor many landbird species, especially during migration. There are no natural lakes here, but the many artificial ones created for fishing and other recreation have become habitat for many wintering loons and other waterbirds, while waterfowl are particularly abundant in the impoundments of the Broad River and Enoree River Wildlife Management Areas. The many sprawling tracts of the Sumter National Forest include breeding habitat for many species. The many hummingbird feeders in this heavily populated region have attracted Rufous, Calliope, and even Buff-bellied hummingbirds.

Last but not least, the Blue Ridge Mountains poke through the western tip of the state, providing an escape from the summertime heat and humidity. Many northern species reach the edge of their breeding range here, including Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven, and Chestnut-sided and Black-throated Blue Warblers. High points like Caesar`s Head, Table Rock, and Sassafras Mountain provide great vantage points for hawk-watching as well as migration and nesting habitat for abundant warblers of many species.