Exploring the Natural World of South Carolina: Birds Part 1

Anatidae – This large family was under-represented during the trip.  Of the three species we saw, I only missed photographing Mallards.  I suspect we may have added a species or two if we had made it to the larger lakes at Lake Conestee Nature Park.

Wood Duck – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Canada Goose – Lake Conestee Nature Park

Ardeidae – The Wetland Trail at the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve is the perfect place to see herons.  The Great Blue Herons were always easy to spot from the boardwalk, but the Green Heron’s tended to skulk in the vegetation. At Lake Conestee Nature Park, there are two Great Blue Heron nests with young that can been seen from one of the main lookouts off of the boardwalks.

Green Heron – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Green Heron – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Great Blue Heron – Lake Conestee Nature Preserve

Great Blue Heron – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Cathartidae and Accipitridae – Turkey Vultures were on display both during the drive down to South Carolina and up to Ontario.  I kept my eye out for Black Vultures, but I was not lucky enough to find one.  I’m not sure whether they weren’t actually around or whether my inexperience with their identification kept me from finding one. The Red-tailed Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks were found monitoring the wetland and fields of the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve.

Turkey Vulture – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Red-tailed Hawk – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Red-shouldered Hawk – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Red-shouldered Hawk – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Scolopacidae – On our last of three outings to the Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve we came across our first sandpipers of the week.  Three Solitary Sandpipers were working the wetlands, catching the fish fry in the shallowest sections, which luckily for us were in great view of the boardwalks.

Solitary Sandpiper – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Solitary Sandpiper – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Solitary Sandpiper – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Solitary Sandpiper – Edwin M. Griffin Nature Preserve

Read about the dragonflies and damselflies of South Carolina here natural areas I visited here.