Huntington Beach SP – The Beach & Gators
Willet
By: Pat Coate
This is the final posting on Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. The park is a birders’ wonderland containing many habitats including saltwater marsh, freshwater lake, beach and wooded areas. Today’s pictures are primarily from the beach and freshwater lake.
There are about 3 miles of beach with a jetty at one end. While walking out to the jetty I came across the willet pictured above. It was interesting to watch him (or her) with his prey. First, it kept running away from a second willet that was trying to move in on its dinner. Then, when it got a moment’s respite from the competition, the willet would drop the fish into the water and pick it right back up.
Huntington Beach State Park – Saltwater Marsh Life Birds
Semipalmated Plover
By: Pat Coate
This is Part Two (of three) on Huntington Beach State Park located near Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. As I mentioned last week, one of the highlights of the park is the causeway you cross as you enter the park. On one side there is a freshwater lake and on the other a tidal marsh (pictures of the causeway below).
While enjoying the many birds and alligators along the causeway, I was able to add three life birds: black-bellied plover, semipalmated plover and clapper rail.
The semipalmated plover is a fairly common shorebird during migration. (Dad, this is the ‘fake’ bird you took a picture of on your trip to New England). This bird breeds in Alaska and many of the northern most Canadian provinces. It is an active feeder, walking about and pecking here and there for food.
Huntington Beach State Park (SC)
Great Egret
By: Pat Coate
While in SC, I spent some time at Huntington Beach State Park near Murrells Inlet. What a great place! It has three miles of beach with nesting Wilsons plovers and lots of sea and shore birds. But what’s really fun is the causeway as you enter the park. On one side is a freshwater lake complete with alligators, osprey and eagles, and the other side is a very active tidal salt marsh.
Today’s pictures are from the salt marsh – many of birds fishing at low tide.
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