This particular deer was rather curious about my camera, but it definitely didnt mind. These are absolutely beautiful whistling ducks with a very calm and collected attitude. Calendars are mar, ked by year-round excursions to various concerts, culinary programs, and Charleston harbor tours. Cast off for aquatic adventure in tidal creeks, salt marshes, the Kiawah River, and mile-after-mile of sun-sparkled coastline. Review of: Night Heron Park. In total, the Island supports 20 species of mammals, over 250 species of resident and migratory. Our experienced staff will provide waterway maps, route instructions, and a hearty bon voyage before you embark on unforgettable tours of the Islands rippling waters. The Kiawah Island Nature Conservancy has a research database that allows anyone to learn more about the wildlife and natural environments of the Island. Given that we were nearing an extraordinarily hide tide, known as a spring tide, this poor fella did not have much space to hide! 10 Things to Do on Kiawah Island with Kids | Kiawah Island Enjoy a Staycation with These Kiawah Island Activities | Kiawah Island This yellow-bellied slider baby was found and rescued by an island guest, as it had gotten lost and wandered a little too far away from a nearby pond. After a day, he was looking comfortable and ready to leave, so he was released back into the wild. While out out on beach, Naturalist Stevie ran across a beautiful sighting of black skimmers! The Clubs exciting GoKiawah initiative unites friends and families for a wide array of adventures, both on-Island and off. Innovative programming connects Members with others of shared passions and pursuits. Like other shorebirds, these birds are not particularly picky, so we got to watch this fella eat anything from weeds, to insects, to fish and more. This is considered a critical resting space, so it is CRUCIAL that these birds are not disturbed. This is clearly a broad-head! Special thanks to Donna Dorner for capturing this seemingly odd sighting of a common loon stranded on the beach! As you can see, this bird was a little startled as it was awoken from a nap. When our Naturalists participated in the 2023 Winter Bird Count, we were tasked with spotting and identifying birds across Kiawah specifically, we surveyed the Kiawah River and the Ocean Park area. They rest in this area for a few reasons: first, its a relatively safe place for them to idle undisturbed, and second, it give them access to a huge supply of horseshoe crab eggs. Males can reach a maximum of one inch in length, with females reaching up to 1.5 inches. Our expert team of professionals isresponsiblefor monitoring andmanagement of our wildlife, along with theKiawah Island Community Associationand theSouth Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Members with their own boats can enjoy a concierge service that eliminates the hassles of boat ownership. November 22, 2022 ~ One gator, two gators. Getting a good nights sleep is important for your mental health. For toddlers, teens, and in-betweens, our innovative and diverse programming celebrates fitness, fun, and friendship throughout the year. Additionally, there are resources for residents and visitors of the Island including information on how to respect, support, and protect native wildlife. Educational programs and flight demonstrations, followed by walking tours. You can also discover a list of things to do in nature around the Island and ways to volunteer in environmental efforts. Call To Make Your Reservation: (843) 768-6001 Join a Kiawah Island Naturalist on a 7-mile bike tour to discover the fascinating wildlife that inhabits Kiawah's diverse ecosystems. This particular squirrel, known as an eastern grey squirrel, is a lot cooler than you might think! Expect some awesome nests soon as these birds are getting ramped up for the season. Main Real Estate Sales Office - 843.768.3400, 2023 Kiawah Island Real Estate, LLC. Club Members revel in memorable days spent biking the shoreline, strolling miles of shaded trailways, and picnicking on parkland meadows. While terrifying to some, golden silk orb-weavers are not actually dangerous to humans they only bite if roughly handled or provoked. Welcome to the Kiawah Island Nature Program's 2022 wildlife sightings. These creatures and all this beauty reside within a world-class vacation destination known as the Kiawah Island Golf Resort. 36 reviews #4 of 6 things to do in Kiawah Island Sports Camps & Clinics Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying " Outstanding Tennis Resort " Feb 2022 Having played tennis all over the world, I can confidently say that the Roy Barth Tennis Center is one of the very be. Obtain and read the NJ Public Offering Statement before signing anything (NJ Reg#16-15-0011 and 0012). In fact, alligators are such a common sighting that we arent even sure who took this photo! With water and air temperatures cooling ever-so-slightly, expect to start seeing some of are larger reptilian friends make a resurgence! Member Mingles. While enjoying a leisurely bike ride, you'll gain a better understanding of the beach, dunes, maritime forest, ponds, and salt marsh that stretch across the island. Female loggerheads are quite wary when they come ashore to nest and can be easily frightened or disoriented by lights or loud noises. Loggerhead Sea Turtles - Town of Kiawah Island A beautiful bird to find, you can spot these all around Kiawah, but Ive always found Mingo Point to be a hotspot for all three nuthatch species. To date, the Kiawah Conservancy has preserved69 properties (just over 2,307 acres) of pristine natural habitat. Improvements, facilities and programs may be in formative stages and cannot be guaranteed. Thatll teach me! Not many birds can hover, so its always beautiful to see! Out and about exploring the beach, they stumbled upon an old, but beautifully preserved carapace of a lady crab. They can be found everywhere in the early morning hours usually traveling together in groups. Oh, the joys of nature! Just today, I heard three of the gorgeous calls from our yellow-throated warbler friends and decided to test my luck. I found this one in one of my usual birding spots, but definitely look out for crabs in any of Kiawahs muddy, or shallow water areas. More often than not, youre spotting an eastern bluebird! Nonetheless, you will definitely want to look for these guys in the same places, as they are definitely happiest in the water . The island is just over 15 square miles but has no shortage of things to do . Terrible puns in the title aside, this incredible photo was captured after members of our recreation team responded to an owl in distress call. Family-friendly tours are perfect for budding birders of all ages, gator walks appeal to the more adventurous, and photography tours are perfect for those who want to hone their skills behind the lens or just capture a memory of Kiawahs wildlife. Here you'll find postings from our Naturalists and island biologists, showing you what is currently in the field, as well as an archive of observations from throughout the year. THE BEST Kiawah Island Parks & Nature Attractions - Tripadvisor This project is registered with the States of New York and New Jersey. They stretch their wings outs and rest, allowing themselves to dry off in the sun after a nice meal. The head and upper shell (carapace) are dark and reddish brown; the flippers and lower shell (plastron) are light yellow. Even during the bird count in January of last year, we spotted spoonbills, as we did on Seabrook a few weeks later. January 17, 2023 ~ Pretty pretty bluebird, Regardless of the season, eastern bluebirds are a common sighting along the island. Kiawah Island Nature Program - Kiawah Island Golf Resort Visit the various wildlife preserves on the Island, such as the Heron Park Nature Center or the Marsh Island Park and Sanctuary. Be sure to look out for these all throughout Kiawah with the coming winter! Use of recreational facilities and amenities may require club membership. They nest in abandoned woodpecker cavities, and often store acorns and nuts in the bark of trees and other hiding spots. Our red knots typically rest on the northern and southern-most ends of the Island, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled! When you combine that with the amount of drag they are able to produce, you find that squirrels can fall from extremely tall heights with little to no injury. Naturalist Stevie was exploring Night Heron Park when he stumbled upon a wonderful surprise! Embark on a wildlife adventure on Kiawah Island! In almost no time, I found a beautiful bird calling out! In fact, their name is derived from Greek, meaning dipped in silver paint, as their multi-colored look makes them quite the spectacle! This adds a large amount to their bodyweight, meaning they can dive faster and deeper without as much energy. This information has been provided to you by Kiawah Island Real Estate. At this point in the year, they are usually much larger; it seems this turtle had a rather late start. With the migratory season right around the corner for many of our warbling friends, expect a lot of beautiful calls and displaying action! We will be sharing some of the other pictures she was kind enough to share with us, but we thought it would be fun to start off with one of the more common animals you will spot around this time of year the cannonball jellyfish. Timing the water temperature right, they can eat thousands of these eggs, building fat reserves to continue the rest of their journey while hardly slimming the horseshoe egg supply in the process. Visitors - Town of Kiawah Island Kiawahs dolphins are truly special, and this spectacle proves that tenfold. October 14, 2022 ~ Baby yellow-bellied slider. Can you see all of them in the picture? They were hunting in the shallow water (right by the dolphins too). " Great Place to Play Tennis & Great Staff " Aug 2020 Ive probably said it before, but this is an awesome time for birding! So, our gator friends live together until one or both get to big, and then they are off to find another pond either another communal pool with similarly sized alligators, or a pond with smaller alligators that they can comfortably take over for themselves. 3. We are aware that portions of the current website might not work correctly. With mesmerizing pink wings and a gorgeous bill to boot, these birds are quite the sight! is a non-profit grassroots organization that was established by Island residents in 1997. Share your photos and stories with us at Kiawah_Recreation@KiawahResort.com. While it likely wont be until later in the spring and summer until the majority of our babies hatch, it is still important to look out for hatchlings that might get confused along their journey. Kiawah Island and Seabrook are both known as critical sites providing essential areas where they can recuperate and rest undisturbed. Still, it gave me quite a show and I still cant help but think of their docile, song-like call. Keep your eyes peeled theyre a fun bird to spot! On both land and sea, inspiring adventures define the day. When nests begin to hatch, numerous groups of volunteers patrol sections of beach daily to check for emergence of hatchlings. Theres more than one! Paddle away in a canoe, kayak, or kayak-for-two and see where the current will take you.