Conservation // 8 min Read

In the Field: October Eye to the Sky

Written by Palmetto Bluff

September was an exciting month for me for four reasons: the fall migration began, PBC Birding started back up, the Winter Finch Forecast came out, and the black-bellied whistling-ducks hatched! We checked in on the whistling-ducks during the September cavity nest box survey, which had no other bird-related activity. As I mentioned in last month’s Eye to the Sky, we placed two cameras around the tree they were using in hopes of capturing footage of the ducklings leaving the box.

We only obtained two photos of the adults, but it was still exciting nonetheless! When we peeked inside the nest box, we found five unhatched eggs and pieces of shell from the eggs that hatched. Finding unhatched eggs in a bird’s nest is not unusual. I have personally observed unhatched eggs while checking bluebird boxes, especially near the end of the nesting season, but I am unsure if there is any correlation there. Regardless, we can consider the whistling-ducks to have successfully fledged some ducklings! The cavity nest boxes will most likely be absent of bird activity until late November or mid-December when the eastern screech-owls begin roosting in the boxes again.

September was the official start of the fall migration and some of the anticipated migrants appeared at Palmetto Bluff. Pied-billed grebes made their first appearance in late September on the Inland Waterway, and they should begin popping up more frequently over the next few weeks.

Pied-billed Grebe

The black-throated blue warblers stayed true to their seasonal arrival as a handful of female birds were spotted in River Road Preserve. American redstarts were also seen flitting about the oak and hickory leaves in the Preserve. Meanwhile, ovenbirds were seen darting through the brush of River Road Preserve and Headwaters Nature Trail. The aforementioned birds are not out of the ordinary for this time of year, but they are unique species worth mentioning. Often, species that appear outside of their range or early in the season are what we consider unusual. An example of this was a sighting of a ruby-crowned kinglet in mid-September. They are a common species during the winter, but they typically arrive in mid-October.

During the Conservancy’s September 23rd bird walk, white-eyed vireos made quite a racket! Their boisterous calls were likely telling the influx of new birds to stay out of their turf. Above the noisy vireos, foraging flocks of chickadees and titmice were heard and seen moving through the canopy. I always recommend stopping and watching these flocks as they meander through. These groups often contain a mix of common species seen throughout the year, but sometimes a unique migratory bird may be hiding among the common species. In fact, this was how we documented the first chestnut-sided warbler at Palmetto Bluff back in 2020!

Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

Lastly, I will wrap up September by talking about the Winter Finch Forecast. This forecast is a collaboration of multiple people and organizations in the northern United States and Canada looking at boreal bird activity and cone crop production of northern conifers. This information is used, alongside wildfire activity and beetle infestations, to form a general idea of what boreal bird activity will look like for the winter. A year with poor cone crop production usually indicates an irruption year, which is when many of the boreal species move farther south in search of food. The first Winter Finch Forecast went out at the end of September and gave a basic overview of what to expect for each species. According to their first post, it sounds like we will not see an irruption this year. While the first forecast did not cover American goldfinches, the purple finches were the only mentioned species that may make a good showing in Beaufort County during the 2021-2022 winter.

Soaring into October, keep an eye out for the stark white heads of our nation’s national symbol, the bald eagle. Bald eagles, while a year-round resident, become more prevalent in early October as individuals that left during the summer return to their breeding grounds. Eagles use the same nest every year and continue to add on to the structure. These annual additions can result in gargantuan nests; the record bald eagle nest being 9.5 ft in diameter, 20 feet deep, and weighing close to 6,000 pounds!

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle

Southern eagles tend to start earlier than their northern relatives with some individuals laying eggs as early as November, compared to February for northern populations. I often have great luck spotting eagles around Lake Bales in Moreland Village or Longfield Stables, but you may actually hear more eagles than you would expect. Listen out for their whiny call, which may not be the nicest way to describe it, but it is more accurate than what is commonly known from TV and movies. Most of the “eagles” we hear in media are actually the calls of red-tailed hawks, which sound more majestic than the true eagle sounds.

Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle

We can expect to see more migratory birds passing through Palmetto Bluff this month. The peak of the fall migration occurs in October with most species being on the move at this point. There is the exception of waterfowl and the boreal birds mentioned in the finch forecast, but we will talk about them in the November Eye to the Sky!

Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

A common warbler that will arrive in October is the yellow-rumped warbler, which has the best colloquial name of all… butter butts! As both names suggest, they have a yellow patch of feathers at the base of their tail, or rump, and this feature is present in their breeding and winter plumage. Now is a good time to make note of which wax myrtles around the Bluff have a ton of berries on them, as yellow-rumped warblers are one of the main avian consumers of this fruit. They can digest up to 80% of the wax content of the berries, and you will sometimes see the shrubs “come alive” from all of the butter butt activity.

Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

The yellow-bellied sapsuckers, another fun name to say, also arrive in October. Sapsuckers are a species of woodpecker that feed heavily on the sap of trees, creating wells in the bark that allow sap to ooze to the surface and be consumed. Something to note with sapsuckers is the main trees they target are usually damaged or weakened from another cause, though they do love sweetgums due to the excessive sap they produce. To find these birds by sound, listen out for their nasally meows from up high compared to the harsh meows of gray catbirds hiding in the brush below.

Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Nasally meow and harsh meow… really Aaron? Yes, really! Bird songs and calls come in a slew of chirps, chips, peeps, meows, whines, screams, trills, and other wild sounds. I always equate learning the diversity of bird vocalizations to learning a second language, and, just like when you learn a second language, if you don’t use it, you lose it. Every year I have to refresh my memory on the sounds of seasonal species, and I will be the first to admit that I have been stumped by birds that I was able to easily identify 6 months prior all because I had forgotten their sounds. Some people find identifying birds by sound to be overwhelming and for those who have asked for advice, my response is always this: master the songs and calls of northern cardinals, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, and Carolina wrens. These four species are some of the most common birds that you will hear and see in your backyard and along nature trails in Bluffton and Hilton Head. All four of them have a slew of vocalizations with some even sounding similar to each other. These are also some of the more vocal species, which means the less time you spend trying to identify them, the more time you can focus on the unique migratory birds moving about the woods this fall.

The fall migration has officially begun, and we hope you have a lot of luck spotting migratory warblers! If you see or photograph something you wish to share, you can submit your sightings to Aaron Palmieri at apalmieri@pbconservancy.org and they may appear in next month’s update.

September’s Unique Sightings:

  • Roseate spoonbills (Moreland Ponds, Montage Cottages)
  • Cooper’s Hawks (Conservancy Shop)
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Community Gardens)
  • Palm Warblers (Community Gardens, Conservancy Classroom)
  • American Redstarts (River Road Preserve)
  • Black-throated Blue Warblers (River Road Preserve)
  • Pied-billed Grebe (Inland Waterway)
  • Ovenbird (River Road Preserve, Headwaters Nature Trail)
  • Bald Eagle (Longfield Stables, Moreland Village, Moreland Forest, Conservancy Shop)

September Contributors:

Brian Byrne

Real Estate
Two-Bedroom Homes in Palmetto Bluff: Small Spaces, Big Advantages

Two-Bedroom Homes in Palmetto Bluff: Small Spaces, Big Advantages At Palmetto Bluff, life moves at a more thoughtful pace, one centered around nature, community, and well-designed spaces that invite you to slow down and savor the moment. Within this disti...

Jul 2025
coore and crenshaw

Sporting Life
What to Expect from the New Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course

Take a Peek at the Coore & Crenshaw Course at Palmetto Bluff Golf has always been more than a game at Palmetto Bluff. It is a way of experiencing the land, connecting with nature, and building community through quiet competition and shared moments. With t...

Jul 2025

Club Life
More at Moreland: An Enclave for Active Lifestyles

Moreland Village is centered around an active lifestyle that’s easily accessible to homeowners. With the Movement Studio just steps away from the Conservancy Classroom, residents can grab a coffee from Canteen, partake in pilates, then join a bluebird research...

Jul 2025
brian bryne

Conservation
Behind the Bluff with Land and Wildlife Manager: Brian Byrne

Brian’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff If you’ve ever spotted a feral pig along a trail, heard the call of a hawk overhead, or taken a peaceful walk through the Bluff’s maritime forest, you’ve likely experienced the quiet impact of Brian Byrne’s work. As the Palme...

Jul 2025
palmetto bluff home

Real Estate
Why Palmetto Bluff is the Perfect Place for a Second (or Third) Home

Why You Should Consider Investing in a Palmetto Bluff Home Some places feel like a getaway. And then there are places that feel like coming home. Palmetto Bluff manages to be both. Tucked between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, this 20,000-acre haven in t...

Jul 2025

Culture
Wild Island

This Manhattan-sized, Gilded Age enclave and National Seashore off the Florida-Georgia coast is so much more than a beachcomber’s delight.  By Alexandra Marvar “There’s one. Oh, and there’s one.” He bends down to pick up a shark tooth. Then another, and anot...

Jul 2025
south carolina food

Food & Wine
A Foodie’s Guide to the South Carolina Lowcountry

Best Things to Eat in South Carolina’s Lowcountry When it comes to Southern cuisine, no place captures the heart (and appetite) quite like the South Carolina Lowcountry. Rooted in history and layered with coastal influence, this region serves up a culinary id...

Jul 2025
palmetto bluff marissa wolf

Culture
Behind the Bluff with Membership Manager: Marissa Wolf

Marissa’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff At Palmetto Bluff, hospitality goes beyond service; it’s a way of life. For Members and visitors alike, there’s a quiet charm to the place that draws you in, makes you feel at ease, and leaves a lasting impression. Few peop...

Jul 2025

Culture
Paradise Found: Hidden Nature Trails in Palmetto Bluff

Top 7 Palmetto Bluff Nature Trails Do you ever get the feeling of wanting to escape and wander into a serene paradise? The nature trails at Palmetto Bluff afford opportunities to roam and admire the vastness of the Bluff’s 20,000 acres. Throughout the communi...

Jun 2025

Architecture & Design
Moreland Village: Laid Back Luxury

Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village feels a world away from the more traditional architecture of the iconi...

Jun 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us