Change of Plans Rewarded - 25 Apr 2026

This morning Jack, Janet and I were to (possibly) meet with Mr. Hank (Prince George Community) for donuts and coffee, and possibly some birding at Prince George. We were hoping to get into the gated community to look for the Gull-billed Tern and bird the nearby salt marsh. 

Hank was a no-show at the PI Bakery so we drove over to Prince George and gave him a call for access. But after no answer we decided it might be best to drive back to Pawley's Island and bird the south beach access. It turned out to be a great decision.

Unbeknownst to me the south beach at Pawley's Island looks directly across the canal to Prince George where we birded two days ago. With the morning sunrise we had the Sun to our back and great light to view the Royal Terns, Sandwich Terns, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Least Terns that were still hanging out on the sandbar. At 8 am this morning skies were clear, temperature was 70ºF (and rising), and the tide was going out and creating fresh mudflats for shorebirds/terns/gulls to forage.

As we walked to the point I spotted a large pale tern with long wings and a dark bill. It was flying along the ocean from the point so it was partially backlit, but I yelled to Jack that it might be the Gull-billed Tern! He got bins on the bird and verified a thick black bill and no eye patch, so we knew were not looking at a Forster's Tern. Unfortunately for me my camera somehow got knocked so instead of shooting 30 fps I was shooting single-shot exposures. As I flew past us I locked focus and fired away for several seconds only to realize that I had taken only 3 photos, all of the bird as it flew away. I do believe, however, that the photos show a thick black bill, non-forked tail, and clean white wings with possibly-dark primary tips that are diagnostic for GBTE. 

Jack thought that the tern would fly north along the ocean shoreline and circle back south along the canal as it had in the past. We stuck around for another hour but never saw it again. In the meantime we saw small flocks of Hudsonian Whimbrel fly in off the tip and enjoyed watching the Least Terns and Laughing Gulls fly up and down the canal as it slowly drained.

A Red-breasted Merganser swam by and fished in the canal only 50' away.

We headed back to the car to drive to the north end to check the beach.

Pawleys Island--South End, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 25, 2026 7:59 AM - 9:33 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.295 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 70F, tide receding
39 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)  1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  1
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)  1
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans)  1
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  2
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  1
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  12
Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus)  18
Willet (Tringa semipalmata)  2
Willet (Eastern) (Tringa semipalmata semipalmata)  1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  2
Sanderling (Calidris alba)  1
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  12
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)  1
Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)  6
Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)  1
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  6
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)  2
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)  4
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)  1
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  1
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)  3
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)  4
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)  7
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  1
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  36
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  7
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  1
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)  6

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S327048438
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

As we drove the island Jack and Janet saw Marshall Chapman and stopped to chat. She had been their  neighbor several years ago when they were down here on the island and they had kept in touch. It turns out that she has quite the Nashville singing/songwriting resume!

We parked at the north end of the island and walked out to the beach. Unfortunately there were no birds on the mudflats and only a distant roost of Royal Terns, Black-bellied Plovers and Black Skimmers too far to properly ID and photograph. A Brown Thrasher was the only photo opp during the short walk. 

We headed back home.

Pawleys Island--North End, Georgetown, South Carolina, US

Apr 25, 2026 9:45 AM - 10:09 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.725 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 75F
16 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)  1
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  1
Willet (Tringa semipalmata)  2
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  2
Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)  24
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)  1
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)  4
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  55
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  2
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)  50
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)  2
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S327075556
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We headed back to the house and relaxed on the back porch. Jack wanted some help setting up his Nikon Z9 for birds in flight and we played with settings while Cocoa got mischievous with our drinks...

At about noon we drove into Geogetown to make reservations at Frank's for dinner tonight with the Davis'. We than had a light lunch across the street at Brewed Awakening before driving further south to look for a Western Kingbird (not yet seen this year) that was frequenting the marina for several years past. We had to settle for Northern Mockingbird.

We then took a ride to Belle Isle Community with the hopes of seeing some Black-bellied Whistling Ducks but they appear to have not yet arrived in the area. Or perhaps this Alligator ate them all?

Belle Isle Rd, Georgetown US-SC 33.30021, -79.30492, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 25, 2026 1:44 PM - 2:02 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.348 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     No Whistling Ducks
8 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)  6
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S327261789
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

We then made a quick pass through Harbor Club (Community) where we spotted numerous Southern Fox Squirrels, several Canada Geese, a domestic / hybrid Egyptian-type Goose, and a Loggerhead Shrike that is apparently new to the area (Ken later mentioned seeing one during this past CBC).

2664 Seaport Cir, Georgetown US-S-Harbor Club, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 25, 2026 2:17 PM - 2:22 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.651 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Cloudy, 76F
8 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  2
goose sp. (Anatidae (goose sp.))  1
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)  1     1st one seen in this community
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)  6
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)  12
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S327274494
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

With skies clouding up and possible rain showers coming we headed back to Pawley's Island for a short rest before dinner tonight at Franks with Ken and Julie Davis.

After dinner I thanked Ken and Julie for their hospitality and guiding services, and threatened to visit them again next year. Time to head back to the house and pack for the flight home tomorrow.