Written by Palmetto Bluff
Nov 19, 2024
As summer’s heavy air fades into fall’s cool breezes, our resident wildlife are busy preparing for another Lowcountry winter.
In the fall, eastern wild turkeys move into habitats mostly dominated by hardwood trees such as oaks, hickories, beeches, cypresses, tupelos, and other species that produce winter mast (fruits, nuts, and seeds).
The choruses of southern cricket frogs and southern leopard frogs are waning in late November, and by the end of December, we will begin hearing the early calls of southern chorus frogs and spring peepers. Eastern spadefoot toads will also join us on any warm, wet evenings.
The fall bird migration has all but ended, with late migrants like cedar waxwings finally showing up in the Lowcountry. Bald eagles and great horned owls are unique among our local birds, as they are winter-breeding raptors.
Finally, our flowering plants are entering dormancy, but some species of asters, goldenrods, and sunflowers will persist into our mild December winter. These flowering plants may be hiding among the seed stalks of bluestem, muhly, and Indian grass, giving us a glimpse of their seasonal color.
Palmetto Bluff’s beauty is year-round, but fall is a particularly perfect time to visit. With warm days to explore the May River or partake in our many sporting activities and cool evenings to cozy up by the fire with a nightcap, the cooler months at Palmetto Bluff are some of the most enjoyable of the year.
