CawCaw Interpretive Center in September

           Caw Caw Interpretive Center, one of our Charleston County Parks, is one of the best places to go birding locally, especially if you go one the Wednesday or Saturday bird walk led by Perry Nugent, one of Charleston area's most expert birders.   This park, located a few miles south of Charleston on Highway 17, has a variety of habitats including pine, hardwoods, cypress swamp and old rice impoundments managed now for waterfowl.  On September 10, with  an influx of fall migrants in the area, Carl and I decided to see what Perry would help us spot out at Caw Caw on the Saturday morning walk.

Little Blue Heron (juvenile) -- CawCaw Interpretive Center, Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

        Although we saw many bird species, I cannot say that I was very successful with the photography this day.  This young Little Blue Heron posed very nicely for me, as did this scraggly-looking Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

    
          This Yellow-Throated Warbler, being the curious sort, responded well to phishing but he was a bit coy about showing himself.

Yellow-Throated Warbler -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

              While out on the dikes of the impoundments, we had one of those very rare days when we heard and/or saw both a Least Bittern (our Bittern of Summer) and an American Bittern (our Bittern of Winter), which flew right over us.  Regrettably, I do not have any photos of either bird.  This Green Heron did not mind showing himself briefly, however.

Green Heron -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

            Also, we watched while this Golden Orb ate lunch.

Golden Orb -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

           A Fall arrival we hoped to see, a male American Redstart, very nicely bounced about a tree overhead and flashed his orange and black tail.  Still, the male American Redstarts must be among the most difficult birds to photograph as they rarely sit still and they are always in the leaves!  So I WILL congratulate myself on this sort of decent photo. 

American Redstart -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

          This Eastern Wood Peewee may be my favorite bird of the day.  He sort of led us down the trail, perching out in the open, usually just out of reach of my long lens.  But on a couple of occasions (for the photos below), he perched long enough for me to capture him as I tried to inconspicuously sneak up to him.

Eastern Wood Peewee -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

            Along the marshes of the impoundments, we also saw Common Gallinule, a Solitary Sandpiper, a Spotted Sandpiper, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Indigo Buntings, Blue Grosbeaks, Prairie Warblers, Common Yellow Throats, Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows and even a Northern Rough-Winged Sparrow and as well as some very reclusive Painted Buntings.  None of them were interested in being photographed this day. 

           This sleepy little Tree Frog (either a Green or a Squirrel Tree Frog) did not seem to be aware of us at all.

Squirrel Tree Frog -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

Tree Frog -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

              Our bug expert friend, Merle Shepherd, professor emeritus of entomology at Clemson University's Coastal Research and Education Center here in Charleston, was also birding with us at CawCaw that morning and he identified for us this lovely, caterpiller as the Banded Sphinx.

Banded Sphinx Caterpiller -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

             Here's our group of birders with binoculars trained on something truely interesting.  I do not know what it may have been as I lagged back behind the group to take the photo.  By the time I caught up with them they were looking at something else!

Birders of CawCaw -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

            At the end of our walk, we came by an area where a mother American Alligator had recently hatched out some youngin'.  And here you can see one of those babies. 

Baby American Alligator -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 10, 2011

            A week later, on a rather dismal, cloudy Sunday, Carl and I decided to cheer ourselves with a "vigourous" walk around CawCaw.  Well, even on a cloudy day, defintely not the right conditions for photography, there is still plenty to see and photograph at CawCaw.

We found another Golden Orb.  And a little while later, we found another web with both male and female.  That male had better be careful!

Golden Orb -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

Male Golden Orb appears to be leaving the female -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

         In the impoundments, we also found a skittish flock of newly arrived Blue-Winged Teal!

Blue-Winged Teal -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

            This female Blue Grosbeak cast a doubtful eye upon us as we walked past.  At least she stayed put long enough for me to capture her in this photo.

Female Blue Grosbeak -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

        This young Common Yellowthroat was a much more cooperative subject.

Young Common Yellowthroat -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

                There were several Hmmingbirds buzzing about the marsh along the impoundments.  I had, before today when I edited this photo, assumed that the female below was a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.  Today, however, I began to wonder if she could be a Black-Chinned due to the non-central veining on her wing feathers which also appear to extend beyond the tail.  You see, a few years ago, we had a female Black-Chinned Hummer over-winter at our house.  We know this for certain, because she was identified and banded by our hummingbird expert and friend, Doreen Cubie.  I vaguely remember that Doreen pointed out the differences in the veining and length in the wing feathers as a way to differentiate between the females of these 2 species.  Doreen, if I am wrong, please pipe in and I will publish a retraction! 

Female Ruby-Throated or Blaack-Chinned Hummingbird? -- CawCaw -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

I studied Bob Sargent's detailed observations of the distinguishing traits between the females of these 2 species on the Hummer/Bird Study Group website.  This bird seems to me to have characteristics of both -- ah it is so very confusing!  Feel free to comment if you have an opinion! 


              In the impoundment this very pale Tri-Colored Heron was fishing.

Tri-Colored Heron -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

             Towards the end of our "vigorous" walk, I was able to capture the action above: a Red-Shouldered Hawk being harassed by a Cooper's Hawk.

Cooper's Hawk harassing a Red-Shoulded Hawk -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

Cooper's Hawk harassing a Red-Shoulded Hawk -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

Cooper's Hawk harassing a Red-Shouldered Hawk -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

                  To finish on a gentler, calmer note, we observed a pair of Common Yellowthroats hunting bugs along the swamp's edge.  The female was decidedly non-photogenic in the available light so I only kept the picture of this handsome male.

Male Common Yellowthroat -- CawCaw Interpretive Center -- Ravenel, SC -- September 18, 2011

               Our two trips to CawCaw in September were quite enjoyable.  It is always great to see newly arrived Fall & Winter species for the first time.  (It will also be wonderful to see those Spring migrants and our Birds of Summer again, too!)  On September 10, with Perry's help, I got 59 species and on September 18, without Perry, I got 43 species.  I recommend experiencing CawCaw on a bird walk with Perry Nugent.  He will help you to see and hear things that you would not know were there!  Then visiting CawCaw on your own without the Perry Nugent birding team will also be delightful, but you will wonder what you missed!  Hmmm, I should go back soon!