Spot Migrating Birds in Myrtle Beach this Fall

South Carolina is one of the top bird watching hotspots in North America—it’s a great place to catch a peek at migrating birds in the spring and fall.  You can glimpse shorebirds, waterfowl, land birds and marsh birds, as long as you know where to look!

• One of the top spots for bird watchers in Myrtle Beach and the surrounding area is Huntington Beach State Park. Stop in at the park’s Education Center to get a bird checklist, which you can use to mark off the birds you see on the 2,500 acre park. You can also check the log book to see what other birders have caught sight of recently and log your own sightings. The park also offers birding programs throughout the year, so check in for opportunities.

When you wander the salt marsh, tidal waters, fresh water and brackish marshes and sand dunes, you’ll be amazed by all the different species you can discover, including loons, flycatchers, juncos, an array of woodpeckers, raptors, gulls and sandpipers.

• Myrtle Beach State Park covers more than 300 acres and includes maritime forest habitat, sand dunes, maritime grassland, wetland areas and ocean—all of which adds up to some great birding!

The park includes a nature trail and pier as well as great beach access, but the South Carolina Bird Club maintains that “the real attraction of this park is its woods. The forest here is an island of wilderness … one of the better spots along the South Carolina coast for finding passerine migrants, especially during the fall migration.”

Have you done some Myrtle Beach bird watching? What were your favorite birding hotspots?

Posted 8/16/13