Seven Birding Spots in the Carolinas
North Carolina and South Carolina offer incredible birdwatching.
by Simon Thompson
The white-fringed woodlands of a dogwood spring; the crashing of waves on a storm-swept winter beach; the soft blue haze over the summer mountains. All these scenes evoke the beauty and diversity of the Carolinas. Add the incredible variety of birds seen throughout the year and the Carolinas rank as one of the finest year-round birding destinations in the United States.
Imagine the rare thrill of a deep-sea petrel chase 50 miles from shore; the descending song of the first returning Yellow-throated Warbler in the spring or the strident calls of thousands of Snow Geese on their wintering grounds along the North Carolina coast.
At 450 miles wide and with habitats ranging from mountains to the sea, it is no wonder that more than 420 species have been recorded within North Carolina's borders. South Carolina is much smaller, tucked in below its larger neighbor. Despite this close proximity, birding between the states can be strikingly different.
I hope you will be enticed to visit at least one of the great birding areas listed below. Let's start with some birding hotspots in South Carolina.
1. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Early March marks the beginning of spring birding in South Carolina. This is when the first Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parulas, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Northern Rough-winged Swallows and Purple Martins start to appear. A wonderful place to start the birding year is Magnolia Plantation and Gardens near Charleston, where small numbers of hardy birds, such as gnatcatchers and warblers, might overwinter.
In April, the real influx of birds begins. The magnificent plantation gardens become ablaze with camelias, daffodils, azaleas and magnolias. More and more migrants begin to arrive, too. A walk along the winding, flower-lined paths and dikes in the spring can produce Least Bitterns, Sora, Painted Buntings, Prothonotary Warblers and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Mississippi Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks and Bald Eagles nest in the area, and nearby marshes are home to Common Moorhens, Least Bitterns and the ever-present and extremely noisy Boat-tailed Grackles.
2. Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge
Farther up the South Carolina coast, north of Charleston, is a string of outstanding wildlife refuges, state parks and preserves. As you travel up Highway 17, you'll soon reach the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. It is comprised of a series of coastal marshes, mudflats and barrier islands that stretch for 22 miles along the South Carolina coast.
The pier of Moore's Landing is an excellent place to observe shorebirds. When the tide is low, many species can be seen, often at very close range. Both Willets and American Oystercatchers are year-round residents. During fall, winter and spring, they might be joined by Short-billed Dowitchers, Semipalmated Plovers and even Marbled Godwits. Black Skimmers, Brown Pelicans and Laughing Gulls are also common residents.
A two-mile nature trail is located on six-mile-long, two-mile-wide Bulls Island. Many of the refuge's 300-plus bird species have been recorded here. This is a popular birding site. It is also where red wolves were reintroduced into South Carolina and where Hurricane Hugo made landfall in September 1989. If you visit the island, bring water and food, and wear comfortable walking shoes. You will need insect repellent during spring, summer and fall. Boats to the island leave Moore's Landing regularly; contact the refuge for the current timetable.
3. Santee Coastal Reserve
Continuing farther up the coast on Highway 17, the next top-class birding spot you'll arrive at is the Santee Coastal Reserve. This 25,000-acre refuge is a vast area of brackish and freshwater marshes, bald cypress and water tupelo swamps, and old-growth pine forest.
While many waterfowl species are present during the colder months, the real highlights of the reserve are the birds in the pine woodlands. Along the entrance road is an outstanding stretch of forest, where endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers can often be found. Also, with effort, you should be able to observe elusive Bachman's Sparrows, as well as Brown-headed Nuthatches, Summer Tanagers, Wild Turkeys and Pine Warblers.
Nature trails are available at 1.8 and 2.7 miles in from the entrance gate. The 2.5-mile Washo Reserve trail will take you through tupelo and cypress swamp, maritime forest and brackish marshes.
During the late spring and summer months, a brief stop at the Santee River Delta on the way north to Georgetown should produce one of South Carolina's most obscure yet distinctive birds: the Swallow-tailed Kite. Scan the extensive marshes on both sides of the road for kites, as well as Bald Eagles and many egrets and herons.
4. Huntington Beach State Park
Located 15 miles north of Georgetown, Huntington Beach State Park is arguably the single best birding spot in South Carolina. You can often observe 100 species of birds during a single day. The reason for the great diversity is the park's wide range of habitat, which includes maritime forest, salt- and freshwater marshes and the famous rock jetty along the beach. Some top-quality birds found here over the years have included Fulvous Whistling-Ducks, Razorbills, Black Guillemots, American White Pelicans and, most recently in April 1998, the first South Carolina record of a White Wagtail.
One of the best birding locations in the park is the causeway that separates extensive salt marshes from a freshwater pond. Here, observation platforms enable you to scan the wetlands at your leisure. In the salt marshes during low tide, no matter the season, you should see Clapper Rails, Seaside Sparrows, Boat-tailed Grackles and White Ibis, as well as a varied assortment of shorebirds during spring and fall migration.
In the freshwater lagoon on the other side of the causeway, the birdlife is quite different. Here, birds include Least Bitterns during the summer months and Pied-billed Grebes, Blue-winged Teal and many other ducks during the winter.
The one-mile walk along the beach to the jetty is one of the greatest birding walks in the state and might produce more rarities than any other site in the park. Piping Plovers are year-round residents; they are joined during the summer by a few pairs of larger Wilson's Plovers. Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlins and Western Sandpipers are the most common species during the winter, while Reddish Egrets are seen every year at the pool near the jetty. Purple Sandpipers, Oldsquaws, Great Coromorants and Common Ground-Doves are also likely to be observed on the way to, and at, the jetty.
Now, on to North Carolina!
5. North Carolina: Beautiful Blue-Ridge Birding
The first spring migrant heard in the Blue Ridge Mountains of far-western North Carolina is usually the Solitary Vireo, or Blue-headed Vireo as it is now officially named (the Solitary Vireo has been officially "split" into three species: the Blue-headed, Cassin's and Plumbeous Vireos). This vanguard of warmer weather moves up the slopes starting in late February, breeding mostly above 2,500 feet. The next species to arrive, as the lower slopes turn green and the wildflowers begin to bloom, are Black-throated Green Warblers and Black-and-white Warblers.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is 469 miles of scenic highway that connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky Mountain National Park in Cherokee, North Carolina. Asheville, South Carolina, at the intersection of I-26 and I-40, offers many access points. Lodging and restaurants abound in Asheville, too.
The Blue Ridge Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives in the Southern Appalachians. There's a bonus, too: along its entire length there is easy access to many excellent birding locations!
Altitude is the key to bird diversity here. In a few hours, you can drive from lower-elevation oak-dominated forests, containing such birds as Ruffed Grouse, Broad-winged Hawks and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, through northern hardwoods to the higher-elevation spruce-fir ecosystems above 4,500 feet. Here, you can observe Northern Saw-whet Owls, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Red Crossbills, Brown Creepers, Pine Siskins and Canada Warblers Ñ all species that are restricted to the higher elevations during the summer months.
6. Two Great Birding Parks
Driving east from the Blue Ridge Mountains, the scenery changes, and the land begins to flatten out. Two birding locations in the foothills are worth a visit: Chimney Rock Park, near the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, and Jackson Park in nearby Hendersonville.
Chimney Rock Park is a popular destination for birders and tourists, and it offers several bird species that typically inhabit cooler forests. During the summer, warblers are the big attraction, with Black-throated Green Warblers being the most common. Within the cove-forest and associated hickory woodland, there are many Hooded, Black-and-white and Worm-eating Warblers. Swainson's Warblers are fairly common in the dense rhododendron thickets, and a Peregrine Falcon pair is usually present in Hickory Nut Gorge and has nested in the park.
Some birders consider Jackson Park one of the best migration birding spots in North Carolina. A wide range of habitats are represented in its 317 acres. Here, on a late-September morning, it is possible to find more than 70 species as they pass through on their way south. Spring migration has smaller numbers but can include local rarities such as Connecticut and Mourning Warblers. Other birds of note that have been seen here include Olive-sided Flycatchers, Baird's Sandpipers, Barn Owls and Philadelphia Vireos. Two-hour bird walks are held on the second Saturday of every month.
7. Outer Banks Birding
The other obvious choice North Carolina birding locale is the Outer Banks, a 130-mile-long stretch of barrier islands that runs from Virginia to the South Carolina line. During spring, fall and winter, the birding along this coastline can be outstanding. My favorite time to visit is after the summer tourists have left and huge congregations of waterfowl arrive. There are few places that can compare with the beautifully desolate "feeling of the wild" the Banks evoke at this time.
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge is the top spot for many birders. A walk along the dikes and roads here during the fall shorebird migration can produce an outstanding selection of species. Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlins and Semipalmated Plovers are common; Curlew Sandpipers, Hudsonian Godwits and Wilson's Phalaropes occur annually. Actually, just about every shorebird that occurs in eastern North America has been recorded at Pea Island.
The fall is also when cold fronts sweep through and southbound migrants concentrate in small clumps of windswept vegetation and scattered bushes. During peak flights, usually rare birds are often reported daily, including such species as Western Kingbirds and Clay-colored and Lark Sparrows.
There are many other excellent birding areas along the Outer Banks. The pools and marshes around Bodie Island always attract good numbers of ducks and shorebirds. During spring, you can enjoy very close views of Virginia Rails and their chicks from the raised boardwalks. Sea-watching for gulls, terns and seabirds from Cape Point is fun. A good time awaits anyone who takes the time to bird the multitude of habitats up and down the barrier islands.
For the truly adventurous, a boat trip offshore into the Gulf Stream to search for seabirds is a must. This ocean area has been producing real rarities, including Bermuda and Herald Petrels and White-tailed and Red-tailed Tropicbirds.
Good numbers of the regularly occurring shearwaters, terns and petrels are seen on almost every excursion from May through August. Trying to maintain extended views of the birds on a rocking boat can be a real challenge. However, even with potentially rough seas and foul weather, the possibility of finding a real rarity is worth it. If one is observed, less-than-great conditions are immediately forgotten as all aboard scramble for the best vantage point.
Summing It Up
From the mountains of North Carolina to the coastal marshes of South Carolina, diverse birding is outstanding during any season. The Blue Ridge Mountains that traverse the spine of both North and South Carolina offer some of the best birding around. Walking in the woods during a spring or early summer morning, you can easily tally a list of 25 warbler species, along with a good selection of vireos, thrushes and orioles. A visit to the Carolina coast during the cooler months almost always yields a great assortment of ducks, herons and shorebirds.
It may be too much to say the Carolinas "have it all," but I can certainly say you won't be disappointed in the birds they have to offer.