ALEX ROWAN 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. Caesars Head State Park, Cleveland Robert Rommel, Wildlife Photographer 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. 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. 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. 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. 50
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2025: Page 50
