Birds and Beaches . . .

What could be better?

After a brief stop at Myrtle Beach State Park, we spent most of the week at Huntington Beach State Park (both in South Carolina), just a half hour south. What a difference 20 miles makes! While Myrtle Beach had some wildlife, Huntington Beach was a birding mecca. Our campsite area had direct access to the beach and to several of the trails. Other trails we could drive to without leaving the park. And, two miles down the road they had a great kayak launch. We spent mornings birding and boating and afternoons floating in the ocean. Life is good!

After that, we made overnight stops at Fort McAllister State Park and Crooked River State Park (both in Georgia) and arrived at our final stop, Manatee Hammock (Titusville FL) yesterday. We photographed so much fun stuff, I had trouble picking out just a few to share this week. So, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and sit back and watch the show below.

Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), Huntington Beach SP

Shot after dark by the light from my headlamp.

Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrookii), Huntington Beach SP

Southern Plains Bumble Bee (Bombus fraternus), Crooked River State Park

Gulf Fritillary (Dione vanillae), Crooked River State Park

There were 100’s migrating along the dunes everywhere we went.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius), Huntington Beach SP

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla), Fort McAllister SP

Immature Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea), Huntington Beach SP

Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus), Huntington Beach SP

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), Huntington Beach SP

Brown Widow Spider (Latrodectus geometricus), Huntington Beach SP

I shared the bathroom stall with her. She is less venomous than her Black Widow cousin.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Huntington Beach SP

Wood stork (Mycteria americana), Huntington Beach SP

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Huntington Beach SP

He was chasing fish, but the Wood Storks and Snowy Egrets were keeping there distance.

Sanderling (Calidris alba), Myrtle Beach SP

Dashing ahead of the waves.

Atlantic Sand Fiddler (Leptuca pugilator), Huntington Beach SP

There were hundreds of them!

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus), Myrtle Beach SP

Carl kayaking at Huntington Beach SP

American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), Huntington Beach SP

I think that Snowy Egret was a bit alarmed even though the gator was chasing fish.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Huntington Beach SP

We kayaked right up to the tree where he was sitting.

Common Buckeye (Juonia coenia), Myrtle Beach SP

There were tons of butterflies at Myrtle Beach SP.

Sanderling at sunrise. Myrtle Beach SP.

Minutes before sunrise. Myrtle Beach SP.

Sanderlings at Sunrise, Myrtle Beach SP.

Sunrise, Myrtle Beach SP