Nature

A Birdwatcher’s Guide to Late Spring on the Sea Islands

The energy of spring migration has quieted, but don’t put away the binoculars just yet. Late May and early June are among the most rewarding weeks of the year for birding the Sea Islands. This time of year, the action has shifted from migrant spectacle to nesting drama. The marsh and maritime forest are occupied by birds raising young, and if you know where to look, the viewing is extraordinary.

Birds to Look For

Painted Bunting –Males are now holding territories and singing persistently from dense thickets, making them easier to locate by ear even when foliage hides them. Females are quietly incubating nearby. This is peak season for Painted Buntings on the Sea Islands, so take advantage of it before summer dispersal.

Wood Stork –Nesting colonies are active and adults are making constant feeding runs to surrounding wetlands to provision chicks. Look for them in large numbers on tidal flats and impoundment edges, particularly in the hours around low tide.

Least Tern & Wilson’s Plover –Both species are now actively nesting on open sandy beaches and dredge spoil areas. Least Terns are conspicuous, as they hover, dive, and deliver small fish to mates on the nest. Wilson’s Plovers are more subtle; watch for adults feigning injury (the broken-wing display) near the wrack line, a sure sign chicks are nearby.

Osprey Fledglings –By early June, Osprey chicks are large and visible in their nest platforms, exercising wings and demanding food from tireless parents. Watch for young birds making their first clumsy flights near the river.

Chuck-will’s-widow –Heard far more than seen, this nocturnal relative of the Whippoorwill calls persistently from the maritime forest on warm nights. Its loud, rolling call (“chuck-will’s-widow”) is one of the defining sounds of a Sea Island summer evening.

Also listen for: clapper rails clattering through the marsh at dawn, great crested flycatchers calling from the forest canopy, and purple martins tending their colonies at gourd racks across the island.

Best Local Spots
Kiawah beachfront (early morning) — for nesting Least Terns, Wilson’s Plovers, and American Oystercatchers working the surf line; go before 8 a.m.

Captain Sam’s Inlet –excellent for Terns, Skimmers, and any lingering shorebirds on the exposed sand

Kiawah River by kayak –the marsh opens up at this time of year; Wood Storks, Spoonbills, and wading birds are highly active

Kiawah River by foot –With 20 miles of trails winding through maritime forest and past salt water and freshwater ponds, you’re bound to hear the Painted Bunting’s song or catch a glimpse of an Egret feeding in the shallows

Quick Tips
Go early and stay near water –summer heat builds fast; birding is best in the first two hours after sunrise, especially along tidal edges.

Switch from migration mode to nesting mode –instead of scanning for new arrivals, watch for behavioral cues: food deliveries, territorial chasing, distraction displays near the ground.

Mind the nesting birds –beach-nesting species are at their most vulnerable right now. Obey all posted signs, keep dogs leashed, and resist the urge to get closer for a photo.

Late May and early June are when the Sea Islands feel most alive. The marsh is busy, the nests are full, and the birding is anything but quiet.