Most people come to the Lowcountry for the food, the old houses and the slow evenings on a porch. But anyone who spends a morning on a quiet beach or a marsh boardwalk soon notices something else: the birds. Herons stand motionless in the spartina, pelicans glide low over the waves and flocks of small shorebirds race back and forth at the edge of the surf.
Birdwatching here is easy to fall into, even if you have never owned a pair of binoculars. And some of the birds you see on a South Carolina beach in spring are in the middle of journeys that take them all the way to the Arctic.
Why the Lowcountry is so good for birds
The Lowcountry is a patchwork of barrier islands, salt marsh, tidal creeks, old rice fields and maritime forest. That mix of habitats gives birds a lot of choices, from mudflats full of food to quiet islands where they can rest.
The coast also sits on the Atlantic Flyway, one of the main routes migrating birds follow between South America and the far north. In spring and fall, the beaches and marshes become a rest stop for thousands of travelers.
You don't need a remote location to see them. Some of the best birding is a short drive from downtown Charleston or Savannah.
The red knot: a small bird with a huge journey
The red knot is a robin-sized shorebird that turns a warm, rusty red in spring. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, red knots migrate from wintering grounds as far south as the tip of South America to nesting grounds north of the Arctic Circle, a round trip of more than 18,000 miles.
South Carolina's barrier islands are one of the most important stops on that route. Research cited by the SCDNR estimated that about 17,000 knots use Kiawah and Seabrook islands and the nearby Deveaux Bank Seabird Sanctuary, staying an average of 47 days. That was around 41 percent of the estimated population.
The birds are federally threatened, and their numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades. On Kiawah, they rest at high tide near Captain Sams Inlet and feed on small coquina clams in the surf zone at low tide.
From Carolina beaches to the Arctic
Satellite tracking has shown just how far these birds go. In one SCDNR study, six of nine tagged knots flew nonstop from South Carolina or Georgia to James Bay or Hudson Bay in Canada, a flight of about 1,700 miles.
A later tracking project followed knots tagged on Kiawah Island and in Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Several reached breeding areas on Arctic islands north of mainland Nunavut, including Victoria Island and Southampton Island.
It's a humbling thought when you watch a small flock feeding at your feet. A few weeks later, those same birds may be nesting on the tundra.
Where to go birding near Charleston
Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, north of Charleston, protects a long stretch of barrier islands, marsh and open water. Much of it is reached by boat, and it is one of the key sites for shorebirds and nesting sea turtles on the coast.
Kiawah Island and the neighboring Seabrook Island are good places to see shorebirds on the beach, especially in spring. Remember that some areas near inlets are closed or restricted to protect resting birds.
Closer to town, the marshes and wetlands around Charleston are full of herons and egrets. If you are planning a longer visit, our list of things to do in Charleston, SC is a good way to fit a morning of birding into your trip.
Birding around Savannah
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge sits just across the river from the city, on the border between Georgia and South Carolina. It was built around old rice fields, and the impoundments attract wading birds, ducks and alligators.
A drive along the refuge's wildlife route is an easy way to see a lot without much walking. Bring water, insect repellent and patience.
If you are pairing birds with a city break, our guide to a weekend in Savannah has ideas for where to eat and stay.
Birds you are likely to see
Brown pelicans are everywhere along the coast, often flying in tidy lines just above the water. Great egrets, snowy egrets and great blue herons work the marsh edges.
In the warmer months, look for wood storks in wetlands and roseate spoonbills, with their pink feathers and flat bills. In shrubby areas, the painted bunting, one of the most colorful songbirds in North America, is a summer favorite.
On the beach, small sandpipers, plovers and willets chase the waves. In spring, look closely among them for the red knots.
When to go
Spring is the best time for migrating shorebirds. The red knots use the South Carolina coast mainly between February and May, with many leaving for the north in mid to late May.
Fall brings another wave of migrants heading south. Winter is quieter on the beaches but good for ducks and wading birds, and summer is the season for nesting birds, spoonbills and storks.
Early mornings are the best time of day. The light is soft, the birds are active and the heat hasn't set in yet.
How to birdwatch without disturbing the birds
Shorebirds on migration need every bit of energy they have. When people, dogs or drones flush them, they burn fuel they need for the next long flight.
Keep your distance, walk around flocks instead of through them and follow posted closures. Keep dogs on a leash on beaches where birds are resting. A pair of binoculars lets you enjoy the birds up close without getting close.
What to bring
A pair of binoculars and a simple field guide or bird app will get you started. Many people use free apps to identify birds by photo or sound.
Wear light layers, a hat and shoes that can handle sand or mud. The marsh can be buggy, so pack insect repellent. Our guide on what to wear in Charleston, SC covers the weather through the seasons.
The other side of the flyway
Red knots don't only travel through the Americas. A different population of knots crosses the North Atlantic and stops in northern Norway in spring. Researchers have documented large flocks at fjords such as Porsangerfjord and Balsfjord in May, where the birds fatten up before flying on toward breeding grounds in Greenland and Arctic Canada.
The Norwegian stopovers can host tens of thousands of knots at a time. The birds usually arrive in mid-May and leave again within a couple of weeks, which makes it a short but spectacular event for birders in the north. It is the same species you see in Carolina, on a completely different route.
If the idea of Arctic birds and wild northern landscapes catches your imagination, Feltornitologene, a blog about Norway's wildlife and birds, is a lovely place to read about the species found from the Norwegian coast to the Arctic.
A slower way to see the Lowcountry
Birdwatching asks you to slow down, stand still and pay attention. That fits the Lowcountry perfectly.
Next time you walk a beach near Charleston or a marsh trail outside Savannah, take a closer look at the birds around you. Some of them are locals, and some are only passing through on their way to the top of the world.
Cover photo: Flock of red knots at Folly Beach, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).
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