Conservation // 2 min Read

Palmetto Bluff’s 211th Bird Species

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Oct 19, 2020

Being a birder during the fall migration typically results in spending my free time looking for migratory birds. While some people would not dream of being at work on their day off, Palmetto Bluff is one of my favorite places to go bird watching. One crisp Saturday morning, I decided to venture over to the Sandhill Loop Nature Trail. During the spring, it was an unexpected gold mine of warblers and I was curious if that would hold true during the fall. My wife joined me on this small adventure and, as we meandered down the trail, we observed many of the usual suspects. Cardinals, chickadees, wrens, and other common year-round species were included in the sights of that morning. We also saw a few summer tanagers fattening up on insects in preparation for their journey south.

We eventually completed the loop and returned back to the start of the trail. BUT, before walking across Old Palmetto Bluff Road, we began to see activity – a foraging flock led by a noisy tufted titmouse was moving across the canopy overhead. We checked off chickadees, a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers, brown-headed nuthatches…and then I spotted something else. A greenish crown caused me to freeze as I observed the bird’s barred wings, gray underside, and overall body shape. I realized I was looking at a chestnut-sided warbler! Wait a minute… What about the chestnut sides? We deduced it was most likely an immature individual as, unlike adults, they lack their namesake along with the elegant facial markings of mature males, but nonetheless I was ecstatic. Chestnut-sided warblers are only seen during migrations and the majority of eBird records for our area show them in the fall rather than the spring.

I brought it up to the other team members when I returned to work that week, and Jay mentioned he had not heard of this species being seen at the Bluff before. I later checked old bird survey data, as well as the list of birds seen at Palmetto Bluff, and found that they had not yet been documented. I happily checked off the chestnut-sided warbler and it became the 211th species of bird that has been documented at Palmetto Bluff. Situations like this are why I always encourage people to grab their binoculars and venture down our gorgeous nature trails because you never know what you will encounter!

Architecture & Design / Resurrecting Stones

Story by Katie Epps Photographs by Joel Caldwell Beneath Palmetto Bluff’s sprawling oaks lie twelve cemeteries that serve as the final resting places for hundreds of people and nine dogs. Five of these cemeteries were started as burial grounds for enslaved...

Mar 2024

Real Estate / Discover The Grove: A Premier Enclave for Nature-Inspired Living

Putting Down Strong Roots The Grove seamlessly combines curated style with courtyard living, welcoming the lush beauty of the Lowcountry at every doorstep. With twelve homesites meticulously designed to maximize outdoor living, Palmetto Bluff Builders offer...

Mar 2024

Culture / Meet Palmetto Bluff Club Members Shayne and Jason Hollander

How did you meet? Shayne: Jason and I both attended the University of Southern California. We met through our mutual friend Mike, a USC connection. I was always very captivated by Jason, his wit and charm.  Jason: Shayne’s first job in college was working ...

Mar 2024
palmetto bluff activities

Sporting Life / Sticking to Your New Year Resolutions: How to Stay Active at The Bluff

Create Lasting Habits With These 6 Palmetto Bluff Activities As the new year sets in, many of us find ourselves determined to stick to those resolutions we set just a few weeks ago. Whether it's getting fit, staying active, or embracing a healthier lifestyle,...

Mar 2024
palmetto bluff homes

Real Estate / Real Estate Spotlight: 29 Wintercress Rd, 213 Davies Rd, and 18 Flicker St

Discover These Three Luxury Palmetto Bluff Homes Palmetto Bluff is a private community nestled in South Carolina's Lowcountry. All properties at The Bluff blend the comfort of coastal living with the luxury of a modern Lowcountry estate. Built to be family...

Mar 2024
home upkeep checklist

Real Estate / Get Ahead of Spring Cleaning: How to Upkeep Your Luxury Lowcountry Home

8 Ways To Upkeep Your Palmetto Bluff Home Every year in the unspoiled seclusion of the Lowcountry, spring slips serenely and gracefully into bloom in the lush maritime forests, salt marshlands, and smooth waterways. While the Lowcountry’s natural majesty arre...

Mar 2024
2024 palmetto bluff events

Culture / 13 Can’t-Miss Palmetto Bluff Events This Year

2024 Events in the Lowcountry Positioned in the heart of the Lowcountry, Palmetto Bluff stands as a beacon of coastal elegance, offering an unparalleled blend of luxurious living and quintessential events that capture the essence of this charming region. In 2...

Mar 2024

Architecture & Design / Building On A Legacy

Everyone talks about the drive into Palmetto Bluff, the miles of shady pavement, the dense maritime canopy, crossing over the headwaters of the May River, and the alligator forever sunning at the causeway. It’s an iconic section of road. People say their shoul...

Mar 2024

Culture / Day Trips from Palmetto Bluff

Story by Barry Kaufman and Photographs by Lizzy Rollins Just beyond the gates of Palmetto Bluff, at the end of that quiet stretch of trees and sunlight, a solitary strip of pavement beckons. This connective tissue, a tributary, leads off across the great Amer...

Feb 2024
palmetto bluff

Real Estate / Behind the Bluff with Broker-in-Charge W. Bryan Byrne

Bryan’s Journey to Palmetto Bluff Real Estate In this edition of Behind the Bluff, W. Bryan Byrne, the Broker-in-Charge at Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Company, discusses his two-decade journey in the community. His experience has intricately molded the authent...

Jan 2024
LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us