I had not been to this favorite location in early spring and wanted to check out the warblers and other spring birds.In summer, fall, and winter the shorebirds and wading birds along with waterfowl are always available. The spring migration was an unknown to me. I was able to see a few warblers including the Black and White, the Common Yellowthroat, the Yellow-rumped, the Prothonotary, and the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Painted Buntings were already present and busily nest-building. Talking with local regular park visitors, I learned that the variety of warblers here is limited and fall is the best time to see them.
I spent most of my time on what is called the “straight road” which is the original driveway from hwy. 17 in to the front of the old Atalaya mansion which is now deserted and is a historic site which can be visited. This road, now a trail, is about 3/4 mile long and is bordered by a large freshwater pond on the north side and a water filled swamp on the south side. The elevated road is bordered by thick bushes, reeds, and mixed pine/hardwood forest. This environment is ideal for nesting waterfowl and wading birds, as well as woods birds. Here I saw Common Yellowthroats, Orchard Orioles, Prothonotary Warblers,Black and White Warblers, Cardinals,Bluejays, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens, Common Moorhens, Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Coots, Least Bitterns, and Pied-bill Grebes. This is a very interesting area and there are always birds flying in and out. In April many of these birds were nesting and I was able to get some pics of nests, eggs, and babies. The only precaution here is to watch out for the Alligators. They regularly cross the path which is about 20 feet wide from one side to the other. You can see their “slides” and stay away from them, but you have to watch!! See pictures below of one that came across while I was there and for a time seemed to be coming up the road toward me!!!
The 2 days spent here were great as always. My wife, Glyn and I also saw a great show, Hot Jersey Nights, featuring Frankie Valle and the 4 Seasons tunes at the Palace Theater in Myrtle Beach. If you are in the area, I recommend this show. And, of course we ate great seafood at the Lee’s Country Kitchen and the Wicked Tuna in Murrell’s Inlet, two of our favorite restaurants.
For more information on the Huntington Beach State Park, see the main page on this site. See pictures below taken on this trip.
I spent most of my time on what is called the “straight road” which is the original driveway from hwy. 17 in to the front of the old Atalaya mansion which is now deserted and is a historic site which can be visited. This road, now a trail, is about 3/4 mile long and is bordered by a large freshwater pond on the north side and a water filled swamp on the south side. The elevated road is bordered by thick bushes, reeds, and mixed pine/hardwood forest. This environment is ideal for nesting waterfowl and wading birds, as well as woods birds. Here I saw Common Yellowthroats, Orchard Orioles, Prothonotary Warblers,Black and White Warblers, Cardinals,Bluejays, Tufted Titmice, Carolina Wrens, Common Moorhens, Green Herons, Little Blue Herons, Great Blue Herons, Great and Snowy Egrets, Black-crowned Night Herons, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds, Coots, Least Bitterns, and Pied-bill Grebes. This is a very interesting area and there are always birds flying in and out. In April many of these birds were nesting and I was able to get some pics of nests, eggs, and babies. The only precaution here is to watch out for the Alligators. They regularly cross the path which is about 20 feet wide from one side to the other. You can see their “slides” and stay away from them, but you have to watch!! See pictures below of one that came across while I was there and for a time seemed to be coming up the road toward me!!!
The 2 days spent here were great as always. My wife, Glyn and I also saw a great show, Hot Jersey Nights, featuring Frankie Valle and the 4 Seasons tunes at the Palace Theater in Myrtle Beach. If you are in the area, I recommend this show. And, of course we ate great seafood at the Lee’s Country Kitchen and the Wicked Tuna in Murrell’s Inlet, two of our favorite restaurants.
For more information on the Huntington Beach State Park, see the main page on this site. See pictures below taken on this trip.
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