'Tis the Season: My CBC no. 1: McClellanville -- Murphy Island -- Part 2

Overview Map of the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area

  
                In case you missed 'Tis the Season: My CBC no. 1: McClellanville -- Murphy Island -- Part 1, you may want to backtrack to read about how our morning progressed as our three teams traversed Murphy Island to count the birds.  You will also find links to help you understand where & what Murphy Island is.  Below is a Google Map that I drew which will help you understand our three teams' routes. Clicking the link below the map will also give you more detail.


View Murphy Island 2011 CBC routes in a larger map

        Where I left off in Part 1, Team 1, (myself and Chris Marsh) had just met up with Team 2 (John Cox and Roger Smith) at our designated rendez-vous point in the oceanside woods.  After eating lunch, losing the jackets, and recounting our morning birding anecdotes, we continued through the woods in a southwesterly direction towards the southwest end of the island.  As we continued through the woods, we found the area to be particularly quiet -- until Chris played, from time to time, a recording of an Eastern Screech Owl.  Our count compiler's hope was that we would bring out an Ovenbird.  Alas, no Ovenbirds -- but many other species responded!  The recording brought out Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Orange-Crowned Warblers, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, Black-and-White Warblers, Ruby-Crowned Kinglets, Golden-Crowned Kinglets, Pine Warblers, Northern Cardinals, Hermit Thrush, Brown Creepers, Blue-Headed Vireo, Carolina Chickadees and Carolina Wrens!  Wow!  And we consistently had Eastern Screech Owls respond to the recording as well!  I am sorry to say that I could not get any photos of those little wigglers!  They were constantly moving about trying to locate that bothersome "Eastern Screech Owl!"

            Unfortunately, we had plenty of marsh mosquitoes, too.  The cooler temperatures had limited their numbers some, I am sure.  The temperature in the early morning had been in the low 40s but by afternoon the temperature was in the high 50s -- low 60s.  Nonetheless, I had prepared in advance by dousing myself thoroughly in bug spray before the day's adventures began.  I also kept myself covered as much as possible to avoid their bites.  Generally, due to my precautionary preparations, their buzzing was the most annoying part.  And yet, the nuisance of the little stingers did not detract from my enjoyment of the wild and beautiful maritime forest.  I am, however, rather annoyed with myself that I did not take a photo of my teammates birding along the path.  Sadly, the only photo from the woods is this photo of the "blob" -- an interesting fungus growing in the crook of a live oak.

The "blob" -- a fungus in a live oak -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

          So when did I begin the clickety-click again?  Ah!  We exited the woods onto the southwestern dike and came upon the large flocks of ducks and Snow Geese, which we had heard when we were still in the woods!  Clickety-click!  As we moved down the dike we frequently stopped to count the different flocks of ducks and geese as they approached us or as they lifted up out of the water at our approach!  This was my favorite part of this count! 

Flock of Northern Pintails -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Pintails and Northern Shovelers -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Snow Geese at a distance -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Pintails and Snow Goose -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Shovelers -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Snow Geese -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Snow Geese -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Snow Geese -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

We quickly realized that the majority of the Snow Geese were Blue Phase.  Last year, I remember seeing more White Phase....

Snow Geese -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Snow Goose -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

After flying towards us and then turning, many of the geese settled down into a close-by pond.

Snow Geese -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

         As we progressed along the causeway, we pushed along in the marsh grasses on either side several Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows and Palm Warblers.  On the dike, we eventually flushed some Herring Gulls, Ring-Billed Gulls and Double-Crested Cormorants who had been leisurely sunning themselves. 

Palm Warbler -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

             Although the Blue-Winged Teal were not prominent in numbers, they certainly provided some terrific flyby shots!

Blue-Winged Teal -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Blue-Winged Teal -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Blue-Winged Teal -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

            Other great flybys included a Northern Harrier and a Black-Crowned Night Heron!

Northern Harrier -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Black-Crowned Night Heron -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

              Now those were the birds we were seeing on the dike and off to the right.  Ahead of us on the left, we had noticed a large mixed flock of Green-Winged Teal and Northern Shovelers.  As we approached, these ducks would flush, then circle back and settle down in the same spot as before ... until we were truly too close for their comfort.

Green-Winged Teal and Northern Shoveler in lift-off -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Green-winged Team and Northern Shovelers incoming -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Green-winged Teal touchdaow -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

 
            We arrived at the last leg of our birding expedition where we would turn right and parallel the Intracoastal Waterway as we returned to the dock.  On the corner, we had good looks at a Belted Kingfisher and a Common Loon. 

Male Belted Kingfisher -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Common Loon -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

            We knew that Team 3, Craig Richard and Carl, had completed their route due to Carl's attempts to reach us by phone.  Cell coverage exists minimally.  Earlier, due to a 2 minute conversation before the call was dropped, I knew that they were making good progress,  Later, as expected, our cell phones, one by one, were shutting down, the batteries having been wasted all day by trying to process the only signal available -- analog!  Finally, Carl was able to reach John, the one person who still had a live phone to tell us they had completed their circuit and were waiting for us at the dock.  John told them we were just 20 minutes out.  In reality, it was more like an hour.  But we were not there to count minutes, we were there to count birds!  After we made our turn, we still found more Green-Winged Teal and Northern Shovelers in smaller flocks as well as more Palm Warblers, Northern Cardinals, Red-Winged Blackbirds, Yellow-Rumped Warblers and Palm Warblers.   

Green-Winged Teal -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Green-Winged Teal and Northern Shoveler -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

            Just before we finished our route, I found this cute little fellow in a wooded area.

Opossum -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

        Wow!  It was quite the fabulous day!   After 9.5 hours of birding, we returned to the boat landing at 4:30 a tired, but happy group.  Our duck and geese numbers were a bit down from last year.  Still what a thrill to see these fairly large flocks of various species of duck as well as the Snow Geese living well and safely (we hope) in this refuge!  I personally had counted 84 bird species.  I believe my and Chris' total count was actually a few species more but I only entered my personal numbers into my personal lists and I do not remember our full tally.  I also know that Carl and Craig got a few ocean birds that we had missed.  Carl and I did not attend the countdown dinner since I had another early morning count the next day.  So after the group picture (Grazie a Carl), we exchanged contact information, talked of our future potential CBCs to come, and bid each other "Happy Birding!"  and off we went!

The 2011 Murphy Island Team:  From left to right: Cathy & Carl Miller, Roger Smith, John Cox, Chris Marsh, Craig Richard --  Photo by Carl Miller

         And so I wish to express a Big Thank You to the guys, my teammates, for a great day and for helping me to become a better birder!

'Tis the Season: My CBC no. 1: McClellanville - Murphy Island - Part 1

        My first Christmas Bird Count of the season was a favorite one that I have participated in for 4 years now.  Leaving the house at 5:15 am on Sunday, December 18, 2011, Carl and I joined our 4 other team members and the count compiler at the gates of the Santee Coastal Reserve Wildlife Management Area (WMA), just north of McClellanville, SC, for specific instructions on how to cover our territory, Murphy Island. 

Overview of the Santee Coastal Reserve WMA -- Click here for a larger, more detailed version.

Murphy Island, a barrier island on the seaward side of the Intracoastal Waterway, is only accessible by boat.  It contains multiple impoundments, former rice fields, which are now managed by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources as a refuge for overwintering waterfowl and other breeding and migratory species.  We were divided into 3 teams:  Team 1 -- Chris Marsh and myself; Team 2 -- John Cox and Roger Smith; and Team 3 -- Carl and Craig Richard and we were given specific areas to bird.  We would travel in 2 boats from the landing on the South Santee River in the main area of the WMA.  Chris and I would be dropped off on the front beach to begin birding there and the other 2 teams would continue to the dock on the Intracoastal side of  the island where they would begin their separate routes.


View Murphy Island 2011 CBC routes in a larger map


           Before leaving the boat landing in the early dawn light, we watched a long line of 155 American White Pelicans fly past us!  

Heading towards Murphy Island at dawn -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC -- Photo by Carl Miller

Chris on "front" beach just after arriving -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

         Chris and I disembarked onto the beach and after scanning the mudflats and sandbars for shorebirds (American Oystercatcher, Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings), terns, gulls (including 2 Greater Black-Backed Gulls) and Brown Pelicans, we found our way to the dike which would lead us to Ocean Pond and eventually to our meeting place with Team 2 which was coming up the Central Dike after docking on the Intracoastal side of the island.  In the wooded and brushy areas, we began immediately to acquire sparrows (White-Throated, Song, Savannah, Swamp), Northern Cardinals, Northern Mockingbirds, Marsh Wrens, Yellow-Rumped Warblers, and White Ibis.

Swamp Sparrow -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Marsh Wren -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Cardinal -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

A talkative & cooperative White Ibis -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

       Before little time had passed, we began seeing American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Gadwalls, Double-Crested Cormorants, Northern Shovelers and Blue-winged Teal in the canals along the dike.

Gadwall, Blue-Winged Teal, Northern Shovelers -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

American Coot -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Ruddy Ducks and American Coot -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Lesser Scaup -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

 
            Before we reached Ocean Pond, we observed a Cooper's Hawk, a young Bald Eagle, Northern Harriers, an Osprey and a few flyovers of Northern Shovelers, Mottled Ducks and Northern Pintails.

Cooper's Hawk -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Young Bald Eagle and Mottled Ducks -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Harrier -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

Northern Pintail  -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

              Chris Marsh was the expert birder on our team and I became his apprentice.  He is quite a patient and passionate teacher.  He tried to teach me how to differentiate and thus accurately count through the scope the distant duck species on Ocean Pond.  I learned a few distinguishing marks and am trying to retain some of the cool tidbits that he taught me.  In the Ocean Pond, we (OK, Chris) identified and counted Ring-Necked Ducks, Gadwalls, Lesser Scaup, Buffleheads, Mallards, Mottled Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Blue-Winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, American Wigeons, Canvasbacks and 1 Redhead Duck.  The identification and counting of distant ducks through a scope are skills that take repetition and practice, and a good scope!  I look forward to more opportunities to practice these skills again!

Expert birder Chris Marsh -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

         While Chris counted, I watched for other small birds in the brush and had a continuous conversation with this Gray Catbird.

Gray Catbird -- -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

            Along our path, we found this beautiful Red Admiral butterfly.  How wonderful to live in a climate that you can still have butterflys even in mid-December!

Red Admiral -- Murphy Island -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

           Before we reached our rendez-vous point with Team 2 (aka Roger and John), we veered to the left on a path that led back out to the beach to again, survey the beach.  But for us, it was fairly quiet out there.

Chris checks out a distant sandbar in the inlet -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville CBC

             Finally, we returned back into the wooded interior of the island to find our fellow "Murphian" birders and to enjoy lunch and exchange count anecdotes.  Part 2 of this Christmas Bird Count will continue in the next post with Teams 1 and 2 continuing through the woods on the ocean side of the island and then rounding the southwestern side ... to be posted soon!


  

'Tis the Season .... to Count the Birds!: Christmas Bird Counts

View of the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and their lighthouses -- December 20, 2009 -- McClellanville, SC CBC

            When friends or family ask us if we have any travel plans for the Christmas holidays, Carl and I will quickly respond that no, no, we do not travel long distances during the 2 week holiday season.  If we did, we would miss out on the several area Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) in which we participate annually and which we eagerly anticipate every year with mounting enthusiasm.  Why are we so excited about this?  Well, we are granted access to beautiful, private land in the ACE Basin or on Dewees Island and to parts of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWR) and to SC Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) which are wonderfully wild and normally off-limits -- all to count all the birds that we can find. 

Murphy Island: part of the Santee Coastal Reserve WMA -- December 18, 2011 -- McClellanville, SC CBC

Seriously, the South Carolina Lowcountry offers some of the most lovely, pristine landscapes.  Who would not want to see those areas and the birds that inhabit them?! 

Caspian Tern & American White Pelicans  in mouth of South Santee River off of Murphy Island -- December 21, 2008 -- McClellanville CBC

Additionally, we improve our identification skills birding with some of the most expert birders in the state!  And we can then share our own specific skills helping more novice birders to see and identify the many birds.

Dewees Island, SC -- scouting for birds the evening prior to the Charleston CBC held on January 2, 2011

The excitement shared by birders spotting different species together creates a warm camaraderie.  Birding for us is a relished treasure hunt! 

Male Northern Harrier -- December 27, 2009 -- ACE Basin CBC

Bald Eagle hunting duck on Murphy Island -- December 19, 2010 -- McClellanville CBC

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher -- Santee NWR: Bluff Unit -- December 26, 2009 -- Santee, SC CBC

             More important than personal pleasure, our natural communities and those who cherish them derive many present and future benefits from Christmas Bird Counts and other national bird count days .  The National Audubon Society sponsors this count but many organizations use the data that it produces. Audubon's Christmas Bird Count page gives many examples of how the data have been used over the years to inform conservation measures and to inspire the Congress to pass such legislation as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  For another example, count data are used to determine bag limits for different species of waterfowl to protect the species from over-harvesting and thus possible extinction. 

Ducks and geese in the Santee NWR -- Bluff Unit -- December 26, 2009 -- Santee, SC CBC

Additionally, the US Fish and Wildlife Service use the data to help them determine the areas and birds in need of greatest conservation as well as types of protections to implement  through the Endangered Species Act.  Analysis of data, published in Audubon's 2009 Birds and Climate Change Report showed a northern shift of birds in their winter range to correspond with climate change warming trends.  CBC data were also used by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to produce their 2009 collaborative report, State of the Birds 2009, which revealed the disconcerting, significant decline in bird populations over the past 4 decades.  Such declines serve as a warning signal of the deteriorating health of our ecosystems and dictate a need for further collaborative efforts in strategic land management and conservation actions.  Two other Audubon reports produced in 2007, Common Birds in Decline and Watchlist 2007, using CBC data also revealed details on this plummet in populations of our much-loved common birds, which have declined on average by 68%, and identified 117 rarer species in the continental US and in Hawaii that are imperiled.  To quote David Yarnold's (President and CEO of  the National Audubon Society) latest editorial "Audubon's Christmas Bird Count: Doing Crowd-Science since 1900" which has been published this week in papers nationally (including our own Post & Courier), we are among the multitude of volunteers "who love birds" .... "who take conservation personally" .... "knowing that individual action matters."   We count those birds because it is fun!  And we also count birds to inform the scientists who then inform the policy makers, and to advocate to the government for better and more extensive conservation measures to preserve our precious natural resources.  

Volunteer counting birds on Dewees Island -- January 2, 2011 -- Charleston CBC

And again, in David's words, we are the ones who believe that during this season, "the greatest gift we can give them [the birds and nature], each other, our children and grand-children is a healthy, sustainable future."  And so we, an estimated 60,000 volunteers this year, are cheerfully conducting our counts (aka treasure hunts) in all kinds of weather and climates, submitting our data and advocating for a better future for our birds, their habitats and our natural ecosystems that sustain us all.

Common Loon in the rain -- Dewees Island territory  -- January 2, 2011 -- Charleston CBC

           If you want more information on how the counts are conducted, I suggest this Audubon Society link -- FAQs on the CBC.  Or, if you would like to learn of the 112 year history of the count, try this link, History of the CBC.

           So where do I go from here?  Well this is my introduction to my 5 Christmas Bird Counts this year -- one more than last year.  My subsequent posts will recount those experiences and will be entitled "'Tis the Season: My CBC no.  ____, Name of Count Circle, Territory of Count Circle, Part no. ____."  Having finished editing a very large set of photos from the first count I suspect that certain counts will require more than one post.  We shall see!  Thus, here and in the next few posts, I welcome you to my Christmas Bird Count Adventures here in the SC Lowcountry!  Vacationing here at home is just fine!

Intracoastal Waterway outside of McClellanville, SC -- December, 20, 2009 -- McClellanville CBC

them, each other, and our children and grandchildren is a healthy, sustainable future.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/22/2557491/audubons-christmas-bird-count.html#storylink=cpy

them, each other, and our children and grandchildren is a healthy, sustainable future.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/22/2557491/audubons-christmas-bird-count.html#storylink=cpy

them, each other, and our children and grandchildren is a healthy, sustainable future.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/22/2557491/audubons-christmas-bird-count.html#storylink=cpy