South Carolina Vacation Guide - SC 2025
A Birder's Guide to South Carolina State Parks
2024-12-07 05:10:35
From serene coastal marshes to dramatic mountain ranges, South Carolina's diverse landscapes are home to a vast array of incredible bird species, and many also migrate through South Carolina at certain times of the year. Whether you’re hoping to spot fierce birds of prey, colorful coastal waders or undulating swarms of swallows, bring your binoculars for some spectacular sightings.
HUNTINGTON BEACH STATE PARK
Saltwater marshes, sandy beaches and dunes, coastal forests and shrub thickets draw more than 300 bird species to this state park in Murrells Inlet, one of the top birding sites on the East Coast. Before exploring the nature trails and observation decks, stop by the park’s education center to pick up a birding checklist.
Roseate Spoonbill
Platalea ajaja
Nope, it’s not a flamingo! These wading birds may tout dramatic, bright-pink plumage, but their distinctive spoon-shaped bill and bald, gray head sets them apart. Spot them in inland marshes and tidal ponds.
Double-Crested Cormorant
Nannopterum auritum
This dark-feathered diving bird has striking blue eyes, a long body and a yellow, hooked bill. Its diet is mostly fish, crabs, shrimp and crayfish.
Great Egret
Ardea alba
This tall, white, elegant bird features a long neck, black legs and a spear-like, yellow beak. See them wading through shallow waters in marshes and lagoons hunting for fish.
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Stroll along the beach to see this large, graybrown seabird with a pale-yellow head and bill. They dive dramatically into the ocean and use their distinctive throat pouch to scoop up fish, which they swallow whole.
CHERAW STATE PARK
With dense forests of longleaf pines, blackjack oaks and hickory trees, as well as a cypress swamp along Lake Juniper, this state park in Cheraw is home to an endangered woodpecker and a variety of waterfowl. Also, spot unique wildflowers such as sweet pitcher plants, hunter’s cups and rose pogonia orchids.
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Dryobates borealis
This small, black-and-white speckled bird has a black head, white cheek patch and a small red streak (males). See them in or near their nesting area when you take the short spur trail off Cheraw Nature and Turkey Oak Trails
ST. PHILLIPS ISLAND
From the basecamp of Coastal Expeditions Beaufort on St. Helena Island, hop on a naturalist-led boat tour for a day trip to nearby St. Phillips Island, an undeveloped barrier island with untamed wilderness and a range of natural habitats.
Painted Bunting
Passerina ciris
In brushy and woodland areas, these small, vibrant birds stand out with a dazzling blue head, red throat and body, and green and black wings (male) or an all-yellow-green body (females).
Download the Digital Guide
Scan the QR code for our free digital guide to South Carolina's hottest birding regions and species counts.
ASK THE EXPERT: WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHS
As an award-winning fine art nature and wildlife photographer based in Bluffton, Robert Rommel spends much of his free time exploring South Carolina’s pristine beaches, cypress swamps, salt marshes and hardwood forests. Here, he shares his top three tips for capturing incredible images of birds and other wildlife.
Stay still and quiet.
“Don’t try to walk closer to wildlife. Instead, stay still, low and quiet, and often, wildlife will relax and may move closer to you.”
Be aware of natural cycles.
“You have to understand two cycles — and three cycles if you're near saltwater: the seasonal cycle, the daily cycle and the tidal cycle. For example, you might get best results photographing an American Oystercatcher in the fall (after they have raised their offspring) and a little before or after low tide (when oysters are accessible with open shells).”
Learn what attracts wildlife.
“Position yourself near attractants (perhaps water to drink, logs to rest on, a bird feeder at a park center or a tree full of berries) and wait here at the right times. Wildlife will often show up right in front of you.”
See Rommel’s work at his Robert Rommel – Gallery of Nature in the historic Old Town district of Bluffton.
TABLE ROCK STATE PARK
This mountainous state park in Pickens is designated as an Important Bird Area in South Carolina and hosts the Blue Wall Birding Festival in April, and a winter bird count in February, in support of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Stroll the areas near the visitor center and near the White Oak Shelter for excellent bird watching.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
This powerful bird of prey is one of the world’s fastest and is often spotted in open country and cliffs. Look for its blue-gray back and wings, white body with black bars and small, sharp beak.
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
This small, round bird has a black cap and bib, white cheeks, and grayish body. They are often seen flitting about in mixed forests and eat mostly insects.
LANDSFORD CANAL STATE PARK
Stretched along the Catawba River — home to the largest known stand of rocky shoals spider lilies, which bloom in May and June — this state park in Catawba is also home to a bald eagle nest, where these majestic birds live December through May.
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Stroll the 0.2-mile Eagle Point Trail to spot a nesting pair of these birds, the emblem bird of the United States. They have a white head and tail, dark brown body and a sharp, yellow beak.
DREHER ISLAND STATE PARK
Spanning three islands on Lake Murray, this state park in Prosperity is near Bomb Island, a purple martin sanctuary and the largest roosting site, with more than 750,000 of them returning here from June through late August. Take a purple martin sightseeing cruise to get a closer look.
Purple Martin
Progne subis
A large swallow with iridescent blue-black plumage (males) or gray wings and a white body (females) and small black beaks, these birds are known for their acrobatic flight, social behavior and chirpy, bubbly songs.
Annual Hawk Migration
From early September through late November, migrating hawks soar the thermal winds along the Atlantic Flyway. Find a spot on the main overlook at Caesars Head State Park in Cleveland to watch as many as 6,000 hawks in a day as they cross the Blue Ridge Escarpment.
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