Join expert birders Jim Asmuth and Chip Walker for a car caravan sandpiper hunt at this working turf farm. We will be stopping when we sight activity on the sod fields. Scopes would be helpful; Chip and Jim will be bringing theirs.

Target birds are the Upland, Buff-Breasted and Pectoral Sandpipers, all of which were seen around that time in 2024. There is a colony of year round Ground Doves, as well. It takes about 2 2- 2.5 hours to cover the various sod fields. Note that people are welcome when the farm is NOT working - which means weekends only.

We will meet at the Piggly Wiggly, 10847 N. Jacob Smart Blvd. in downtown Ridgeland. SC parking lot at 8:30am. Take Rte 278 to I-95North and get off at the Ridgeland exit. We will carpool from there, so we have more eyes in each vehicle, and fewer vehicles.

The drive is about 35-40 minutes from Bluffton. There are no facilities or water available after the Piggly Wiggly. There is little shade and the roads are packed sand but very passable. If we have really nasty weather (e.g. hurricane?), our rain date will be Sept 6.

Tickets are $12.00 for members and nonmembers. Limited to 15 people.

(Member registration opens 8/3; nonmembers on 8/10.)

Start the fall field trip season with a slow meander with Master Birder, Terry Cerisoles, around the newly established Mid Island Community Park, which is being converted from many years as a golf course. At present, there is a small parking lot, some port-o-potties, and plenty of old, uneven, but mowed golf cart paths and fairways. Bordering pines and oaks are very popular with many resident bird species. Some are common, but others are not often seen elsewhere on Hilton Head. The very tall dead standing pines host the only Red-Headed Woodpecker colony we know of on the island. Join Hilton Head Audubon along the paths and lagoons, for about 2 or 3 hours, 2 or 3 miles. Except for occasional overflying aircraft , this place feels very wild but is in the heart of the island. 

Directions: The parking lot is about 100 yards off of Rte 278, on Union Cemetery Rd, Hilton Head SC. If coming from the north (from Bluffton or the Cross Island Expressway), take 278 Business East. Go past Matthews Rd, then past the Dillon Rd interesection (McDonald's) -- both of which have traffic lights. The next left (no traffic light) is Union Cemetery Rd. If coming from the south on Rte 278 Business (e.g. from Sea Pines), go past Port Royal Plantation entrance, and take the next right onto Union Cemetery Rd. If you make the turn onto Union Cemetery Rd, but miss the parking lot, you will soon see the Union Cemetery itself, and need to turn around.

Tickets are $12.00 for members and $14.00 for nonmembers. Capacity is limited to 15 people. Rain date is Sept 20th. 

(Member registration opens 8/3; nonmembers 8/10)

Expert birder Jim Asmuth will introduce you to the exciting world of "Birding by Ear".

This two and 1/2 hour class will be held at the Coastal Discovery Museum's "Sea Island Room", located at 70 Honey Horn Dr, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926, on Saturday 09/13/2025 at 9:30 AM.

Topics include: Why birds vocalize; How birds vocalize; Bird calls vs bird songs; How to interpret sonograms; Mnemonic and other techniques for recognizing and memorizing bird songs; Utilizing habitat, season and location, to aid in voice recognition; as well as, using mobile phone apps to precise enhance your  bird songs skills.  

A prerequisite for the class is having the following apps downloaded on you personal smart phones: "Merlin, Bird ID by Corrnell Lab" (free) and "Chirp! Bird Songs and Calls USA" ($3.99).

This class will offer a two hour, "NO binocular zone" stroll around Jarvis Creek Pond, to practice and evaluate your newly learned birding by ear skills. Be sure to bring your personal smartphone downloaded with "Merlin, Bird ID". The field trip will be held on Saturday, September 20TH at 8:30am at 100 Jarvis Creek Park Rd, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.

This class is a prerequisite for the class "How to Record High Quality Bird Sounds". 

Member registration is $32.00; nonmembers $49.00. Class limited to 15 people.

(Member registration opens 8/3; nonmembers 8/10)

Expert birder Chip Walker will teach this class. Students will need to come with “Ocenaudio” downloaded on their laptops. Using stock birdsong recording, we will then customize “Ocenaudio” to optimize audio for posting on the Cornell University Macaulay Library website using the “Add Media” feature of an eBird checklist. 

The class “Birding by Ear” is a prerequisite for registering for this class!

Members $20.00; nonmembers $30.00. Class is limited to 10 people.

(This event is free but please RSVP beginning 9/7).

Join Hilton Head Audubon President Kay Grinnell as she presents the State of the Birds 2025. Based on a newly released assessment by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), Kay's update will highlight developing avian population trends, including which of our local birds are at risk and what we can do to help.

(Member registration opens 9/7; nonmembers on 9/14)

 This class will describe the essential technical, artistic, and behavioral tools to make beautiful wildlife images. Learn the creative techniques that will enhance your wildlife photography skills as well as improve your knowledge of wildlife subjects in their environments. Experienced wildlife photographer, Mary Alice Tartler, will guide you through understanding your camera, necessary camera equipment, the importance of composition, animal behaviors and environments, and finding wildlife in the Lowcountry. No matter what level of expertise you possess, this class will help take your photography to the next level. All nature and wildlife enthusiasts and all levels of photography are welcome to attend. Please bring your camera!

Member tickets are $20.00; nonmembers are $35.00. Participation is capped at 25 people.

(Member registration opens 9/7; nonmembers on 9/14)

Join Wendy Dickes, member of  the shorebird survey team, to work on Shorebird ID. This field trip is best for beginning and intermediate birders wishing to hone basic shorebird identification skills. We will look at bills and feet, observe postures, watch behaviors, discuss plumage changes and migration, etc. We will have at least one spotting scope available, to help everyone see the key features. 

Note the unusual time, to allow the tide to ebb from high:  Tide tables indicate a high tide around  6:40 a.m. We will set up on the beach, to start searching near the high tide line. Then we will follow the tide out, possibly getting our feet wet and sandy, as do the birds. Afterward, those interested can walk over to the boardwalk toward Barker Field, and the extension over the marsh.

Fish Haul Beach Park (120 Mitchellville Rd, Hilton Head) has restrooms in the parking lot.  We will walk in sand as well as hard surfaces, for about l.5 miles total. Prepare for the weather – it feels cooler on the beach than you might expect if it is windy. If the weather is fine, you might elect to bring lunch and picnic on the beach or in the park. Maybe bring a trash bag, since we like to leave a place cleaner than we find it.

Member tickets at $12.00; nonmembers are $14.00. Limited to 15 people.

Directions: From Hwy 278, take Beach City Road. At the intersection with Dillon Rd, turn left. Then look for the first road right, Mitchellville Rd (currently dirt, but the town plans to pave someday…).  This will lead you to the Fish Haul Beach Park, on the right.  

(Member registration opens 9/7; nonmembers on 9/14)

Join Master Birder and Mindful Birding advocate Kathy Byrd for a slow walk around the park, immersing ourselves in the natural world. The scientific data is in! Relief from the daily pressures we face in life is critical to our mental and physical well-being. What better way is there to get away from it all than to spend a couple of hours on a woodland amble with the birds? Unlike our usual bird walks which focus on identification, counts and an Ebird list, this “Mindful Bird Walk” will instead encourage us to use all our senses to fully experience the wonder of nature. We will walk slowly and stop often.

Jarvis Creek Park is located off William Hilton Parkway on Jarvis Creek Road. We will meet near the parking lot. Restrooms available there.

Tickets are $12.00 for members; $14.00 for nonmembers. Participation is capped at 15 people.

Art Show is Free but please RSVP beginning 9/7.

Join us for the opening of this exhibit featuring birds and their habitats as interpreted by local artists from Sea Pines and Hilton Head Audubon. The show runs through mid-January 2026.

(Member registration opens 10/5; nonmembers on 10/12)

Explore the dikes and impoundments of the Laurel Hill Drive with Master Birders Karen Seminary and Rachel Green. Meet in the parking area to carpool for the 4-mile driving loop. We will stop often, get out of the cars to look and listen, and sometimes set up the spotting scope for better views. We expect a variety of herons, egrets, bitterns, gallinules, possibly rails, coots, wintering ducks, etc. in the water. Resident songbirds and sparrows can be found in the treed hammocks and along the road. The birding here is so interesting, it can take up to 4 hours or more to cover the 4-mile drive!

 We have protection in our cars, so the weather need not be perfect. But we might have a cold wind. The dikes are mostly open to the weather, so watch for messages from your leaders in case we need to reschedule. Bring binoculars, water & snacks, extra jacket.

Directions:  Take Rte 170 (Okatie Hwy) west from Bluffton toward Savannah (about 6 miles or so).   Rte 170 curves and turns and changes names, but stay on 170!   It will join Rte 17, then split again, so keep right to stay on Rte 170. In about 2 miles, you will see the Laurel Hill Drive entrance on your left, on a curve.  Make a signal to  turn well ahead of time and be CAREFUL.  Rte 170 can be dangerous with logging and other large trucks, especially on weekdays.

[Note that the Visitor Center is on Rte 17, so do not use that in your GPS.

Member tickets are $12.00; Nonmembers are $14.00. Limited to 15 people.

(Member registration opens 10/5; nonmembers on 10/12)

Visit Historic Mitchelville, America’s first freed men’s village, with longtime resident, writer, storyteller and naturalist Rosemary Staples.  You will hear how former slaves merged their West African traditions into American culture to form “Gullah”, unique to the southeastern coast. You will learn about the Gullah language, customs, spiritual beliefs and their historical significance and reverence for birds. Then, walking through the maritime forest to the beach, you will see resident songbirds, shorebirds and maybe a Bald Eagle soaring overhead.  

Most of the walk will be protected by the forest, so this trip will run rain or shine as long as we don’t have a nasty storm. The beach will be open, likely windy, and probably chilly in early November. Dress accordingly: Bug spray, boots or close-toed shoes. Restrooms at the parking lot. There are a few picnic tables, so if the weather is fine consider bringing a picnic lunch.

Directions:  229 Beach City Rd, Hilton Head SC 29926.  From Rte 278 on Hilton Head, take a left onto Beach City Rd. Mitchelville is nearly at the end of Beach City Road on the right.

(Member registration opens 10/5; nonmembers 10/12)

Bird ID is about so much more than feathers! Learn how to quickly ID our local birds using additional cues–including size and shape, bills and legs, habitat, vocalization, behavior and time of year. Instructor is Hilton Head Audubon President, Kay Grinnell.

Class includes a field trip on Saturday November 15th 9:30am -11:30am led by Jim Asmuth. Location TBD. Our field trip will focus on finding migrating birds who use Hilton Head as a stop-over during their flight.

Tickets are $32.00; nonmembers are $49.00. Limited to 20 people.

(Event is Free but please RSVP beginning 10/5)

In a time when stress can dominate our lives, reconnecting with nature is more crucial than ever. Explore the Lowcountry's finest outdoor spots with Kathy Byrd, Certified Master Birder and author of Exploring the Lowcountry.

Kathy will take you on a journey through parks, wildlife refuges, and preserves around Hilton Head Island, offering rich stories, breathtaking photos, and useful tips. Whether you're embarking on a solo adventure or a family outing, you’ll be inspired to discover the stunning natural landscapes of the Lowcountry!

(Member registration opens 10/5; nonmembers on 10/12)

Come explore this relatively undeveloped park with Ogeechee Audubon field trip chair and author Diana Churchill.  The area of the park which we will explore consists mostly of  impoundments which were once part of a sewage treatment operation, but are now left to birds and wildlife. In winter, we should find several species of sparrows and possibly up to 4 resident wrens. Sometimes we see snipes too! We plan to walk the 3-mile mowed trail around and through the impoundments. There is a restroom in the parking lot. Most of the walk is open to the weather, so dress accordingly. Watch for last minute messages the evening before. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and bug spray. 

Directions:  Sterling Creek Park is at 1700 Elbow Swamp Road Richmond Hill, GA 31324. The entrance is off Harris Trail in the back of the Sterling Creek Park Subdivision, adjacent to the water treatment facility.

(Member registration opens 10/5; nonmembers on 10/12)

Onslow Island is a section of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of an elevated area of dikes and water impoundments immediately adjacent to the Savannah River. For several years its impoundments have been nearly dry and so many now have shrubs and small trees in them. However, in October 2024, some were being used as dredge spoils sites. So we hope there will still be more nutrients and water, which we also hope will attract our wintering ducks and shorebirds.  Join Master Birders Jim Asmuth and Simon “Chip” Walker for a hike of 2 -3 miles, to and around the impoundments.  They will bring a spotting scope or two. No facilities. Footing is uneven on the only occasionally mowed grassy dikes. We usually spend about 2 hours, more or less depending on what birds are there. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and bug spray. 

Onslow is only open on Wednesdays. This property is very exposed, with no protection from the weather. If the weather looks really nasty, especially if very windy, we will postpone to the next Wednesday that your leader is available. Watch for messages from the leader that morning.

Directions: Head west from Bluffton on Rte 170.  Stick with it all the way. It turns and changes names, but is well marked as 170. When it joins Rte 17, keep right as 170 will split off again in another mile. In about 2 miles from that split, you will pass the entrance to Laurel Hill Drive. About 2 miles further, the entrance to Onslow is on the left, poorly marked and easy to miss. You will have gone across one bridge, and you will see the higher bridge over the Savannah River ahead of you. The Onslow parking lot is on the left literally yards from the high bridge.  If you cross into Georgia, you need to turn around!

(Event is Free but please RSVP!)

Presentation by Bob Speare, local Naturalist.  Bob will talk about the CBC and birds we are likely to see on the count.

(Member registration opens 11/2; nonmember on 11/9)

Spend an afternoon at Newhall Preserve discovering the joys of nature journaling with instructor / illustrated journal keeper Pam Johnson Brickell.  Nature Journaling is not just about sketching.  Observation is key. Through a series of specifically designed exercises, you’ll enter the sacred space of slowing down.  The tiniest wonders will open up to you. In the process, observational and sketching skills are developed. A calmness envelopes you and keeps a smile in your heart. No experience is needed.  Just bring your desire to learn. 

Pam Johnson Brickell is an intuitive illustrator of the natural world and urban scene.  She has taught nature and illustrated journaling workshops for over 25 years and practices the art of nature journaling herself on a regular basis. Her medium of choice: ink and watercolor,  sometimes with sprinkles of shiny bits.

Member tickets are 15.00; nonmembers are $25.00. Limited to 20 people.

(Member registration opens 11/2; nonmembers 11/9)

Please join Terry Cerisoles for a winter ramble around Kingfisher Pond and part way along the Tupelo Trail. We will set up a spotting scope on the fishing dock by the parking area, in hopes of some ducks or waders to get us started. Then we will begin the Kingfisher Loop trail which totals about 1 mile. Some people may want to return to the parking lot at this point. Those who wish to continue will veer off that trail onto the Tupelo Trail for about another mile through the woods, possibly as far as the cypress swamp, then back. Our total mileage will be 3 – 3.5 miles. A few wet spots, but boots not normally required on these very good trails. Bring the usual: binoculars, bug repellent, water, snack, and dress for the weather. It will probably be chilly, but at least mostly protected from the wind. No Facilities, but plenty of woods for privacy. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water and bug spray.