April 11, 2016 Day 9 Revisiting Folly Beach. S.C.

 April 11, 2016 Day 9 Revisiting Folly Beach. S.C.

This morning I had to visit the Toyota dealership to find out if the exhaust shield that had broken loose and come off, would be a problem before we arrived back home in Michigan in May. The guys at the dealership indicated that it happens quite often and there was no danger in the short term. So I returned to the trailer  at 7:00 AM and started my day.

On Saturday when we visited Folly Beach in the middle of the Art Festival, we were not able to finish scouting Folly Beach and its Ocean Shoreline. The crowds and packed rods were crushing.

So we returned to that scene today (Monday). The traffic was the first noticeable item, as it was easy driving with few cars on the road to slow us down.  We headed north with a few spots along the shoreline examined, to try to see some shorebirds at least. At the northern tip of the Beach there was indicated on our guide, a circle drive to the back bay side. But when we arrived there, there was a chain across an entry, so we could go no further.  There are many gated communities that we have seen. We turned back

The Atlantic Ocean where possibly Hurricane Hugo some years ago,
tore up this wharf and part of the coast.

and poked in here and there to see through the underbrush to the marshes that were on the back bay side.  Not much out there at all.

On the return over the causeway we stopped at a mud flat that had birds in motion. (Always look for the movement first if there is no song.) There we were in luck as Whimbrels, Sandpipers  and Willets were active with the low tide. 

On my research I found three roads that led away from the highway  that were potential “hot spots”. (Again I think we are early), but besides running into a road crew putting in macadam on a shoulder and waiting ten minutes to pass, we found  South Carolinians who lived in old, very basic housing on  very rough roads that were actually not maintained by the county or state. It was quite sad to see, but is a way that people survive another day.  I am happy that we travelled that road toes how ‘others’ lived.

We returned to the “mud flat”as there were no birds to speak of. This was a good place to break open our lunch, and watch the marshes for what ever might come. (This is often the way we eat lunch). It happened that three different species flew  into that patch of marsh, A Tri-Colored Heron, A Snowy Egret and 5 Little Blue Herons (see photos) . We watched them during lunch and Ruth got out her “Big Gun” (200X doubler) and got some decent pics of them. We actually didn’t properly identify the Tri-Colored Heron until we put them on the computer.

A Snowy Egret . Black legs, black beak, yellow feet

So that was 28 birds today, which is  about where we have been each day after staying in SC. Tomorrow we head north to NC and a stop at the Brookgreen Gardens on the way to Shallotte, NC.

The birding will pick up I am certain as the weather turns and the sun gets higher in the sky.

That TriColored Heron. Seldom seen. Note white plume
on back of neck and white bottom

The two of 5 Little Bue Heron.