Conservation // 4 min Read

In the Field: Eye to the Sky

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Bird watching in January was fairly active compared to the unusually quiet December we experienced in 2020. Carolina chickadees, northern cardinals, and a variety of year-round species were observed this month.

Common seasonal residents included large flocks of double-crested cormorants at the lagoons, spotted sandpipers bobbing along the banks of Lake Bales, and lively yellow-rumped warblers darting through the wax myrtles.

Uncommon, but expected, visitors consisted of black-and-white warblers in River Road Preserve, American goldfinches around Moreland, and common loons spotted out on Corley’s Creek.

Lastly, and to much of our excitement, rare sightings involved a dazzling Baltimore oriole which frequented the Conservancy’s bird feeders, while an out-of-season painted bunting made an appearance around Moreland village.

January Spotted Birds
January spotted birds: Carolina Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, Double-crested Cormorant, Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Goldfinch, Common Loon, Baltimore Oriole, Painted Bunting, Double-Crested Cormorant

Moving into February, we can expect activity to begin picking up with the spring migration arriving in March. Shorebirds will begin migrating in February, but many songbirds use this month to bulk up in preparation for their journey north.

American robins, cedar waxwings, and hermit thrushes may be seen eating the remaining berries from holly and cedar trees. White-eyed vireos and other resident species may begin singing to establish territories, and as we near the end of the month we should see the males of some species begin developing their breeding plumage for the nesting season.

Uncommon species to look out for this month include loggerhead shrikes prowling the open fields around Moreland and Cooper’s hawks may be more noticeable as they chase the more active songbirds.

February Birds
Birds to spot in February: American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Thrush, Loggerhead Shrike, Cooper’s Hawk, Spotted Sandpiper

For people looking to get involved in bird watching, February is the month of the Great Backyard Bird Count. This international citizen science project was initiated by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society and will run from Friday, February 12th to Monday, February 15th. Participation only requires downloading the eBird app and submitting your bird sightings during these dates.

As we move through February, you may observe some of the birds mentioned above or listed on the February checklist below. 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.

February Bird Checklist
Click to open a printable version.
artist in residence programs

Artist in Residence
Palmetto Bluff Artist in Residence 2026: Complete Guide

The Arts Initiative at Palmetto Bluff: 2026 Artist in Residence Artists and Workshops   There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a workshop studio in the early morning; the kind where you can hear brushes moving across canvas, hands shaping clay,...

Feb 2026
Montage Residents Palmetto Bluff

Real Estate
Montage Residences: Where Palmetto Bluff Real Estate Meets Effortless Luxury

Montage Residences Palmetto Bluff: Turnkey Luxury Homes and Lucrative Real Estate Investments There’s a particular kind of real estate buyer who values their time as much as their money. They understand that true luxury isn’t just about owning things; it’s ab...

Feb 2026

Club Life
A New Year, A Fresh Beginning

Before you let your New Year’s resolutions quietly fade, remember this: there are still eleven months ahead. Plenty of time. Plenty of possibilities. This year offers a different approach—one inspired by connection and support. At Palmetto Bluff, you’re sur...

Jan 2026

Club Life
Anson Point In Action

The newest golf experience at Palmetto Bluff is already drawing rave reviews. As the third pillar of golf experience at Palmetto Bluff, Anson Point brings with it a certain lofty set of expectations. After all, it’s hard to follow something like May River G...

Jan 2026

Club Life
Anson Point: Watch A Legend Come To Life

“It's the thrill of being involved in the creation, and it’s the gratification of watching that creation evolve in the manner which you’d hoped”.Bill Coore, Coore & Crenshaw Golf Course Architectshttps://vimeo.com/1155713833?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=c...

Jan 2026

Architecture & Design
Palette Shift

From punchy pastels to saturated jewel tones, color is breaking free of its neutral confines. In these artful Lowcountry homes, design becomes a joyful expression of personality and place.Story by Barry Kaufman / Photographs by Kelli Boyd and Nicole CohenInter...

Jan 2026
palmetto bluff wellness

Culture
An Aussie Take on Wellness: Meet Palmetto Bluff’s Kendra Till

Inside the New Palmetto Bluff Club Fitness Center, Reformer Pilates Studio, and What Wellness Really Means   Kendra Till's journey to Palmetto Bluff wasn't exactly a straight line. After growing up in Iowa and attending the University of South Carolina, her a...

Jan 2026
best time of year to buy a home

Real Estate
Why Winter Is the Perfect Time to Find Your Home at Palmetto Bluff

Palmetto Bluff Real Estate: Why Winter is the Best Time to Buy Your Lowcountry Home   There’s something about winter in the Lowcountry that reveals the true beauty of what life at Palmetto Bluff truly feels like. Century-old live oaks strung with lights cast ...

Jan 2026
Anson Point Golf Course

Club Life
Behind the Bluff: Will Howard on Developing Anson Point Golf Course

Anson Point Golf Course at Palmetto Bluff: A Coore & Crenshaw Nature-Forward Design  Meet Palmetto Bluff’s Vice President of Development, Will Howard, a Georgia native who found his home in Bluffton over 20 years ago. As VP of Development, Will has a wide...

Jan 2026

Culture
Chef Beth’s Southern Sausage & Sage Stuffing

Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, Chef Beth’s Southern Sausage & Sage Stuffing is a holiday classic that brings together rich pork sausage, fresh herbs, and toasted bread for the ultimate savory side dish. Studded with green apples and aromatic vegeta...

Dec 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