2014 Wildlife Archives: Incredible Findings And Photos…

Interested in learning more about the birds of Kiawah? Join our Naturalists for a Back Island Birding or Birding for Beginners Tour! Call the Nature Center for availability and reservations: 843.768.6001

Photo by Naturalist Brad Schmoll

Species:
Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis, Redhead, Greater Scaup, Hooded Merganser, Osprey, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Cooper’s Hawk, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Clapper Rail, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Sanderling, Ring-billed Gull, Herring Gull, Royal Tern, Forster’s Tern, Black Skimmer, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Fish Crow, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat , Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Red-winged Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Northern Mocking Bird

Stop by the Nature Center in Night Heron Park to check out all the exhibits. Open Monday-Thursday, 8:30am-3:30pm | Friday-Sunday, 8:30am-4pm.

Interested in learning more about the birds of Kiawah? Join our Naturalists for a Back Island Birding or Birding for Beginners Tour! Call the Nature Center for availability and reservations: 843.768.6001

Photo by Paula Feldman

Photo by Holly Centurino

Interested in joining Jamie on a Nature Photography tour? Call the Nature Center for availability and reservations: 843.768.6001

Every day reveals a different wildlife story here on Kiawah Island…come out and see what you can discover! ~ Emily Cavell, Naturalist

This morning, the Kiawah River was great for dolphin activity and pelican watching. Six to eight dolphins were strand feeding and working the bank, together and individually, on the dunes side beach between Beachwalker Park and Captain Sam’s spit. One was quite young next to a larger (presumably) female, which appeared to be teaching it how to feed. On top of that, a couple large groups of bait fish caught the eyes of some hungry pelicans as they dramatically plunged into the water for a meal. All in all, a beautiful and eventful morning on the Kiawah River!

Interested in joining us for a Dolphin Encounters tour? Call the Nature Center for availability and reservations: 843.768.6001

If you are currently staying in the Windswept area listen for this owl’s call at night, often described as a mysterious trill.  During the day, the screech-owl’s remarkable camouflage makes them very difficult to find. Listening for a commotion from Blue Jays, chickadees, and titmice can often be helpful in locating these tiny owls.  These smaller birds may also be seen mobbing screech-owls swooping around them making load and consistent calls.

Record breaking: With 5 bobcat kittens (3 male and 2 female), this is the largest den ever found on Kiawah. Born approximately 6 days ago, all were very healthy. Jim Jordon and Aaron Given, quickly pit tagged the kittens and placed them back in the den.

Tour Highlight: In the dunes near the Ocean Course driving range, we observed a pair of Common Ground Doves foraging in dunes.

Photo by Jamie Rood

The best sightings have been in the afternoon in the field near the volleyball court. We would love to see your photos.

Cell phone digiscoped photo by Nick Boehm 

Check out our website for more information on our Motorboat Charters & Excursions and our Birding Tours, or by calling the Nature Center at 843.768.6001.

Photo coming by Jamie Rood

First Bonnethead of the season was causght today in the Kiawah River.

Photo by Mike Waller

Species include:  Tufted Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Northern Cardinal, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Chickadee, Blue Jay, Common Grackle, Laughing Gull, Fish Crow, Black-necked Stilt, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, Red winged Blackbird, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Black-and-white Warbler, Tricolored Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Chipping Sparrow, Belted Kingfisher, Common Moorhen, American Coot, Willet, Eastern Meadowlark, Yellow- rumped Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Pine Warbler, Great Crested Flycatcher, Brown Pelican, Red-tailed Hawk.

*Occasional Species ~ only seen a few times a season.

~Nicholas Boehm, Naturalist 

Back Island Birding with Naturalist Matt Arnold species list: Wild Turkey, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Clapper Rail, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Laughing Gull, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, White-eyed Vireo, American Crow, Fish Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Northern Parula, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Palm Warbler, Swamp Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch.

These extremely low tides have allowed us to find some neat things in the marsh. While on a Family Kayak, we spotted a large Horse Conch on one of the exposed mud bars in the Kiawah River. This shell was huge! At least 16 inches in length with the snail still alive!

Kristen Lococo, Naturalist
Photo by Kobyra and Sowle families

~Nick Boehm, Naturalist

On my Twilight Paddle, we heard some noise in the marsh as we were winding around the creek. We turned the corner to find 2 American Mink pop out of the marsh and swim around us in the creek. My first I had ever seen in the marsh! Even crazier, the next day on my Family Kayak a guest pointed out a mink running along the edge of the marsh during low tide! A rareity!

Kristen Lococo, Naturalist

While fishing Kiawah’s offshore artifical reefs, Captain John Ward was able to get this amazing photo of a Common Loon.

Dolphin activity on this afternoon’s Dolphin Encounters was good.  Even with the extreme tides (-0.9″), two dolphins were present all day and were feeding by tail smacking.  We saw many wading birds feeding along the exposed banks of the marsh that included, Great Egrets,Tri-colored Herons, Willets, American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers and many others.  At Captain Sam’s Inlet, we watched a Bald Eagle carry a large flat object, it appeared to be a skate or maybe a stingray.  The most interesting marsh resident we were lucky to see was a very large whelk.  It measured nearly 12″ long and was alive and seemed to be doing well.

~Brad Schmoll, Captain/Naturalist

A very rare sighting on Kiawah.  Photo by Liz King

Tour: Family Kayak
Naturalist: Kristen Lococo

While on a Family Kayak, we stopped at a Pluff mud bar to feel the mud and found this strange creature. It first appeared to be a piece of a starfish but after a closer look, it turned out to be a Striped Sea Cucumber! These animals are a part of the phylum Echinodermata which includes sea stars and sea urchins. They are often found burrowed in shallow areas, shaped like a boomerang, feeding on tiny organisms such as plankton. When a sea cucumber becomes stressed, it will voluntarily expel their inside organs to distract or disgust any predator trying to eat it. They will grow their organs back in several weeks.

For more information on our Paddling Tours, visit our website or call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001.

First of the season Naturalist sighting of a Painted Bunting

Previous Painted Bunting first of Season Naturalist sightings:
2013: March 30th, Naturalist Matt Arnold
2012: April 1st, Naturalists Brad Schmoll, Brogin van Skoik, Mike Frees and Matt Arnold
2011: April 13th,Naturalist Sarah Ernst 
2010: April 14th, Naturalist Sarah Ernst
2009: March 29th

 30+ Blue Winged Teal in Ibis Pond. Thank you Mr. Brenner for reporting his observations.

 Back Island Birding with Naturalist Matt Arnold species list:  Blue-winged Teal, Wild Turkey, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Anhinga, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Willet, Laughing Gull, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Pine Warbler, Northern Parula, Seaside Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Painted Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch.

Tour: Teen Adventures: Get Lost
Naturalist: Kristen Lococo

While searching for our next destination during Get Lost, we came across a Black Racer near the side of the road. This was the first one that I have come across of the year! This non-venomous snake is common around Kiawah and is faster than most other snakes, usually fleeing when approached. Racers are active during the daytime and eat a variety of prey including insects, lizards, rodents, and amphibians. Be on the lookout for more reptiles as the weather warms up!

For more information on our Youth & Teen Activities, visit our website or call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001.

While walking on Kiawah’s beach, 9 year old Olivia Davidson, her mom and grandmother came across the remains of a shorebird. Upon closer inspection, they could see that the bird was banded. They brought the bird into the Heron Park Nature Center, where it was identified as a Red Knot.

Town Biologists, Jim Jordan and Aaron Given, were able to input the bird’s band number into a database. It revealed that the bird was originally banded on October 24, 2006 in North Brigantine Natural Area, New Jersey. Amazingly, the next siting occurred on April 9, 2010 on Kiawah Island, (additional resightings are listed below). Based on the condition of the bird, our Town Biologists believe it was most likely attacked by another bird, such as a Peregrine Falcon. By reporting this bird band, Olivia and family are helping research scientists across the globe learn more about Red Knots and their amazing migration.

Resightings: 10/27/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 10/31/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/6/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey  11/7/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/8/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/8/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/9/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/14/2011; Avalon, New Jersey; 11/15/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/17/2011 – Avalon – North End, New Jersey; 11/22/2011 – Avalon, New Jersey; 10/18/2012 – Stone Harbor Point, New Jersey   10/25/2012 – Avalon, New Jersey; 10/26/2012 – Avalon, New Jersey; 11/5/2012 – Avalon, New Jersey  11/6/2012 – Avalon, New Jersey; 10/16/2013 – Sea Isle City – North end of town, New Jersey

Naturalist, Matt Arnold, heard his first Chuck-will’s-widow tonight at Mingo Point!

Look closely at this dolphin’s dorsal fin. Can you see the number? While exploring Captain Sam’s Inlet, Island Guest Janice Barbiaux was able to capture a few photos of this tagged dolphin. Through NOAA Marine Biologists we now know this is a female that was captured and freeze branded in 2003. She was 6 years old at the time, making her 17 years old today.

If you spot any animal that is tagged while exploring Kiawah, please record the species, location, date and time, and if possible take a photograph. Send us the information through Facebook or Kiawah_Recreation@KiawahResort.com. We will forward the information to the proper authorities and hopefully we will be able to share some background information about this individual with you.

Tour: Teen Adventures: Get Lost
Naturalist: Juliana Smith

Juliana reports that while on her morning Teen Adventures tour, she heard a Northern Parula in the Night Heron Park. This bird should be just returning from winter migration, but these birds can be found nesting in the Spanish Moss of Kiawah during the warmer months.

For more information on teen activities, please visit our Website, or call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001.

Naturalists’ first of the season sighting:  Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) at Blue Heron Pond.

Back Island Birding species list: Hooded Merganser, Wild Turkey, Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Wood Stork, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, American Coot, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilt, Laughing Gull, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird, Cedar Waxwing, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Song Sparrow, Sharp-tailed Sparrow Spp., Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, House Finch.

Matt Arnold, Naturalist

An impressive species list on Naturalist Matt Arnold’s Back Island Birding:  Blue-winged Teal, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Pied-billed Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-heron, White Ibis, Wood Stork, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Clapper Rail, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Loggerhead Shrike, Blue Jay, American Crow, Fish Crow, Tree Swallow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird (photo by Pam Cohen), Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern, Ring-billed Gull, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-throated Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Seaside Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch.

It was a gorgeous morning filled with sunshine, warmth, and bird chirps! We started our Birding for Beginners walking through the park where we heard Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees singing. Just beyond the soccer field, we looked through our binoculars to find a Northern Flicker searching in the grass for ants and insects to snack on. We continued our walk and heard a “murder” of crows cawing like crazy. We followed the sounds to watch a Barred Owl fly out from a tree branch with dozens of crows nipping at its heels. Our final habitat to look for birds was the beach where we saw Ring-billed Gulls and unidentified sea ducks bobbing up and down in the large swell. The sun and warm weather brought out lots of birds, and even a few alligators!

Notable Species: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Osprey, Barred Owl, Ring-billed Gull, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Flicker, Northern Cardinal (photo by Pam Cohen), American Alligator.

Kristen Lococo, Naturalist

It was a BEAUTIFUL day with no cloud in sight and temperatures in the low 70s, the perfect day to go Marsh Kayaking. We started down the river at a high tide, coasting towards Captain Sam’s Spit where we saw pelicans bomb diving for fish. As we winded through the creeks, we saw 2 adult Bald Eagles and a juvenile in a nest! It was an amazing sight. Today’s trip has me excited for Spring!

Notable Species: Bald Eagle, Eastern Brown Pelican (photo), Sea Pickle, Sea Lettuce, Eastern Oyster, Great Egret, Bufflehead, Wood Stork.

Naturalist: Kristen Lococo
Photographer: Pam Cohen

Dolphin activity was good from the mudflats to Captain Sam’s Inlet. Our Dolphin Encounters began at 1pm during a mid-tide with the water falling. Bird activity in the mudflats was moderate. We saw Osprey, Eastern Brown Pelicans, Willets, Forster’s Terns, Tri-colored Herons, cormorants, Belted Kingfishers, egrets, American Oystercatchers, and a host of various small wading birds in the distance. Our dolphin sighting did not happen until we reached Long Island on Seabrook. We briefly observed two dolphins, a mother and “baby”, cruising from the inlet toward Oyster Creek.

The weather was very pleasant with temperatures in the low 60’s. The whole trip was very comfortable for all of us on the boat. We had guests from Michigan, Maryland- and a couple from Austria on the boat. The clear sky, warm afternoon and abundant wildlife made the memory of all of that ice and snow from a just few days before.. As we made our way from the dock back to the outpost, a juvenile bald eagle soared about 150 ft above us from the northeast and towards Andell Island. Perfect.

Dolphin activity was good from the mudflats to Captain Sam’s Inlet. Our Dolphin Encounters began at 1pm during a mid-tide with the water falling. Bird activity in the mudflats was moderate. We saw Osprey, Eastern Brown Pelicans, Willets, Forster’s Terns, Tri-colored Herons, cormorants, Belted Kingfishers, egrets, American Oystercatchers, and a host of various small wading birds in the distance. Our dolphin sighting did not happen until we reached Long Island on Seabrook. We briefly observed two dolphins, a mother and “baby”, cruising from the inlet toward Oyster Creek.

The weather was very pleasant with temperatures in the low 60’s. The whole trip was very comfortable for all of us on the boat. We had guests from Michigan, Maryland- and a couple from Austria on the boat. The clear sky, warm afternoon and abundant wildlife made the memory of all of that ice and snow from a just few days before.. As we made our way from the dock back to the outpost, a juvenile bald eagle soared about 150 ft above us from the northeast and towards Andell Island. Perfect.

Today, our recreation staff Kristen Lococo and Sarah Chilton watched a Bobcat kitten who was “hanging out” in the brush by the nature center pounce on some breakfast!  Although we cannot confirm, chances are this is Bobcat 350 “Hollywood’s” daughter. (see February 4^th bobcat post).

Tour: Back Island Birding
Naturalist: Matt Arnold

On today’s birding trip, I digiscoped this Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) with my phone. An additional highlight from the tour may be that we got good looks of a River Otter from the dock at Mingo.

Species List: Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Red-breasted Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Red-necked Grebe (rare), Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White Ibis, Black Vulture, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Common Gallinule, American Coot, Killdeer, Western Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, American Crow, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Boat-tailed Grackle, House Finch, American Goldfinch

Interested in joining us for a Birding Tour? Call the Nature Center for more information and to make your reservation. 843.768.6001.

Nature Program Manager, Nick Boehm, just reported two Northern Harriers soaring over the Night Heron Park Soccer Field.

Town Biologists caught their first 2 bobcats of 2014 as part of Kiawah’s ongoing Bobcat GPS Study.  The first bobcat captured was a familar friend, Bobcat 700 from 2013.  Her 2014 Collar is 350.  Jim Jordan (lead Town Biologist) has affectionately named her, “Hollywood”.  She has been featured on the local news, in magazine articles, on the Deadly 60 TV show, and will be featured in an upcoming National Geographic show this year.  She is a fairly approachable cat and can frequently be seen at Night Heron Park and surrounding villas.

The second cat caught was surprisingly “Hollywood’s” daughter from this past spring.  She was PIT tagged as a 10-day old kitten on April 3, 2013 near Windswept Villas and was captured this week near Parkside Villas. Unfortunately, she was too young to be collared.

The weather may be lousy (for Kiawah) but it certainly has made for some phenomenal birding! This evening a Red-necked Grebe was spotted in Ibis Pond.  This is the first recording of a Red-necked Grebe on Kiawah. The sighting made the S.C. Rare Bird Alert.

Photo: Digiscoped (with a cell phone) by Naturalist Matt Arnold.

Heard a new bird call in the park lately?  If so, keep an eye out for we have Killdeer visiting right now!  A very unsual sighting for Night Heron Park,  they are most likley here in response to this week’s ice storm.

Photo by Jamie Rood

Bobcat in the snow, an amazingly rare photo for Kiawah. Photo by Island guest Dr Joel Freeman.

Kiawah Island Recreation employees, Marcie Palm and Sarah Chilton, spotted this Cooper’s Hawk feasting on a Tri-Colored Heron (Egretta tricolor) right outside the Nature Center at Night Heron Park.

Tour: Shelling Expedition
Naturalist: Kristen Lococo

Species: Bald Eagle, Bottlenose Dolphin, Knobbed Whelk, Lettered Olive, Pen shell, Baby’s Ear, Giant Cockle Clam, Horseshoe Crab, Brown Pelican, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, White-winged Scoter.

It was a blustery day on the motorboat, but the bright sunshine warmed us up. A flush of Buffleheads flew past our boat as we headed out to Botany Island. We paused our trip when a mother and calf dolphin surfaced the water for a breath of air. Once we landed on Botany, our eyes were glued to sand. We found plenty of South Carolina’s state seashell, the Lettered Olive, and an array of Baby’s Ears. After selecting a few unique seashells, we continued our boat ride to a Bald Eagle’s nest in search of hatchlings. At first there was no white head to be seen in the nest, until an adult flew over and perched picture perfect in a nearby tree. You never know what will pop up at Botany!

Interested in one of our Motorboat Excursions? Call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001 for more information and to make your reservation.

Tour: Back Island Birding
Naturalist: Juliana Smith

On a Back Island Birding tour this morning, Naturalist Juliana Smith spotted this juvenile bald eagle. Bald Eagles are common here in the winter and will head north as warm spring temperatures approach.

Interested in a Back Island Birding tour? Call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001 for more information.

Photo By: Terra, Jody and Elle Graham

Kiawah Island guests Terra, Jody and Elle Graham spotted this bobcat today near the Sanctuary. Check out the Wildlife at Kiawah page for more information about the bobcats residing on our island.

Fifty-one participants braved the cold and windy conditions to count birds for the Sea Islands CBC. Across 15 different territories covering Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, Wadmalaw Island, and John’s Island, we recorded 24,067 individuals of 154 different species (6 more species than last year). Species highlights included Long-tailed Duck, American White Pelican, Peregrine Falcon, Wilson’s Plover, American Woodcock, Winter Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Vesper Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Purple Finch, and Rusty Blackbird. Some notable misses included Blue-winged Teal, Marsh Wren, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and House Sparrow. Click here to check out the full list.

Interested in learning more about the birds of Kiawah? Join our Naturalists on one of our birding tours, such as Back Island Birding or Birding for Beginners. Call the Nature Center at 843.768.6001 for more information and to book your trip.