Georgetown Co. Rarity Chase - 23 Apr 2026

Today's plan was to bird Georgetown County, SC with the mission to pick up Swainson's Warbler, Hooded Warbler,  Worm-eating Warbler and possibly a Swallow-tailed or Mississippi Kite. Ken was at the house at 6 am and he, Jack and I took off for Choppee School Trails to first look for a Worm-eating Warbler (3 had been reported the past several days). 

We arrived at the school under clear skies and 60ºF and paused long enough to pick up a dozen Canada Geese that were hanging out in the field next to the school. Canada Geese are apparently hard to come by in this county...

Air temperature felt cool so we needed our jackets upon arrival at 6:30 am. Carolina Wrens and Pine Warblers were already singing along with Great Crested Flycatcher and White-eyed Vireo. 

Ken knew where to look for the Worm-eating Warblers so we walked a quarter mile or so and played the Merlin App to help ID the WEWA from the similar-sounding Pine Warblers and Chipping Sparrows. Sure enough, the first of 3 Worm-eating Warblers began singing from 3 different directions high overhead in the canopy. Though we tried playback a few times we could not get any of the birds to show.

We did hear a Hooded Warbler singing nearby and managed a quick photo of one overhead, but lighting was poor and the bird did not stick around for me to get my gear in gear. 

Otherwise the hike along the wooded trail was mostly a birding-by-ear adventure; Summer Tanager, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Ovenbird, and Northern Parula were all singing this morning. 

Returning to the car we managed to spot several Brown Thrashers on the lawn, and a mix of Northern Mockingbird, Tree Swallows, and distant looks at Killdeer. Wanting to get to the Swainson's Warbler spot we didn't stick around and took off by 7:45 am.

Choppee School Trails, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 6:36 AM - 7:39 AM
Protocol: Traveling
1.036 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, calm, 60F
37 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  12     5 goslings
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)  6
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)  1
Great Egret (Ardea alba)  22
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)  5
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  1
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  2
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  3
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  3
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  12
Purple Martin (Progne subis)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  4
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula)  1
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  3
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)  1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  2
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  1
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  2
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  2
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)  3     2 on one side trail singing, third on opposite side. Merlin verified.
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  2
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S325874480

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Our next stop was Peter's Creek Road to look for nesting Swainson's Warbler. The dirt road / pine forest had patches of lowland swamp that was conducive to attracting Prothonotary Warblers, but Jack found a Swainson's Wabler last year and refound one again this year. It was a bird that could be heard singing but difficult to see.

Driving along the road slowly we heard the usual southern pine forest birds: White-eyed Vireos, Eastern Towhee, Pine Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo and Great Crested Flycatcher. A pair of Wild Turkey were a nice find and they ran / flew along the road ahead of the car for several hundred yards before disappearing into the trees. 

Due to the road's proximity to the nearby Black River it was not unusual to see flyover White Ibis and Anhinga in an area that is both dry, sandy, and littered with pine trees and excavation. But patches of the road held thick trees and flooded swampland that produced our first Prothonotary Warblers of the day. 

And sure enough, Jack was able to direct us to a singing Swainson's Warbler (a lifer)! Though the bird called loudly we could not get it to show itself. So we listened to the Swainson's sing while chasing Prothonotary Warblers through the trees.

Satisfied that the Swainson's Warbler would not show we continued out of the forested trees into more open field / excavation areas. Here the fields smelled of smoke from recent fires and dried, downed trees, stumps and brush piles littered the area. But, we got distant looks at a pair of Blue Grosbeaks (male and female), Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Towhee, Red-headed Woodpecker and Red-bellied Woodpecker. 

Still a bit farther down the road we heard the first of 3 Yellow-breasted Chats singing along the roadside. Having only been reported for the first time a couple days ago it was a nice county bird for all three of us. Though we chased 2 birds that would not show themselves we finally spotted the third bird high atop a tree singing in the morning Sun.

Having successfully photographing the chat we returned to the Swainson's Warbler spot and tried again to see the bird. Though it continued to sing loudly from the trees next to the road we could not get it to show itself. So again, we spent a few minutes photographing the more-cooperative Prothonotary Warblers.

We then backtracked to Eaddy Road and took it north toward Plantersville Road. 

Peters creek road, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 7:54 AM - 9:47 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.853 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear 60f
31 species

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)  2
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)  1
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)  1
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)  1
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)  16
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)  1
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)  2
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  2
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  3
Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)  1
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  1
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)  2
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)  3
Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)  1
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  2
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)  4
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  2
Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica)  2
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)  3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2
Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)  2
Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)  3

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S325947351

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home) 

Eaddy Road was one of Jack's favorite spots for finding and photographing Prairie Warblers. So we drove the sandy dirt road and scanned the pine trees on either side for Prairie Warblers. 

Finding a decent area we left the car and walked the road hoping to find a warbler or two to photograph. Prairie Warblers were singing, as were Pine Warblers, Eastern Towhees, Summer Tanagers, and White-eyed Vireos. Ken spotted an Eastern Kingbird on the telephone wire down the road and we headed toward it while Jack went back to retrieve the Jeep. Luckily, the Eastern Kingbird took flight and flew back past us before landing atop a pine a short distance away.

After getting a few photos I heard a Prairie Warbler singing nearby and managed to get eyes on it as it flew across the road and perched atop a pine tree. I was able to get some nice images as it sang in perfect light.

Once back in the car we continued up the road. Ken spotted his fourth Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the morning and Jack and I were able to get a few pics of the tiny male as it preened in a dead snag next to the road.

Ken then alerted us to a kite flying across the field and along the tree tops. Initially thinking it was a Swallow-tailed Kite (expected here) a review of long-distance photos revealed it to be the county's 1st Mississippi Kite of the year! Though I had a record of seeing one at Pt. Pelee, ON 40 years ago I felt that I could call this bird a lifer for me. It was carrying a stick as it disappeared over the pine trees.

Continuing along Eaddy Road we stopped to listen for Worm-eating and Swainson's Warblers in a heavily-forested area. We were able to pick up songs from Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler and a Worm-eating Warbler, but no Swainson's Warbler. It was at this time that we spotted a(nother) Mississippi Kite circling at a distance and slowly moving our way.

Sure enough the Mississippi Kite put on a show circling overhead before disappearing over the trees to the north. 

After getting hundreds of photos of the bird we continued on to Plantersville Road and headed back east and south.

Eaddy Rd, Georgetown US-SC 33.52057, -79.24763, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 9:49 AM - 10:32 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.776 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 60F
20 species

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)  1
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  4
Cooper's Hawk (Astur cooperii)  1
Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)  2
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  2
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  1
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  1
Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla)  1
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius)  1
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)  2
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)  1
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)  1
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)  1
Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  2
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)  3
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S325972780
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

This portion of the drive brought us into more open pine forest with flooded lowlands. We made a stop and heard more Prothonotary Warblers, Red-eyed Vireo, Northern Parula and Northern Cardinal. Nearby Summer Tanager and Prairie Warblers could be heard singing. 

Yet another Mississippi Kite appeared off in the distance ahead of our car so we stopped and got a few pics before it disappeared. 

It is very possible that these "3" kites may all be one kite. However, kite #2 showed a gap in the outer tail feather that was not seen in #1 and #3 so they could be multiples. Still, what excitement!

Plantersville Rd, Georgetown US-SC 33.56484, -79.27224, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 10:33 AM - 11:07 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.035 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear 77F, beeezy
20 species

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)  1
Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis)  3
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2
Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis)  1     Possibly same bird seen earlier
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)  1
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)  1
Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)  2
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  2
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  4
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)  1
Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)  1
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus)  1
Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor)  2
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)  1
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S325993277

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Returning to Highway 701 we drove back south toward Georgetown and back north to Pawley's Island. We made a very quick stop on a bridge over the Pee Dee River to get looks at some Cliff Swallows that roost there.

7901–7947 N Fraser St, Georgetown US-SC 33.48086, -79.27116, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 11:16 AM
Protocol: Incidental
Checklist Comments:     Clear 77F, Bridge colony
2 species

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  7
Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S325997995

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Returning home we took a few minutes to visit w/ Jan and Cocoa, then the three of us headed to Tony's Pizzeria for Philly Cheesesteak sandwiches. We then headed back toward Pawley's Island to check out the birding at Prince George Community located next door to Debordieux Colony.

Prince George is a gated community so Janet had to contact Mr. Hank for the code to get through the gates. As she walked to the call box I started up Merlin and a new eBird checklist. Almost immediately Merlin alerted me to a Red-cockaded Woodpecker! I told Jack, and then suddenly heard the loud "Chip" notes of a Red-cockaded Woodpecker right outside my car window. 

There, on the trunk of a large pine tree was a Red-cockaded Woodpecker foraging not 20' from our car! I grabbed some photos of the bird as it worked its way up the tree and finally disappeared before Janet got back to the car.

I had photos, but I somehow managed to lose the recording of the woodpecker when Janet informed me that eBird listed a Golden Plover during our walk through Choppee earlier this morning. Exiting Merlin to correct the mistake I lost the recording. Ugh...

We drove through Prince George and headed for a small causeway next to the ocean where we scoped a small flock of Royal Terns, Caspian Terns, Sandwich Terns and Least Terns on a sand bar. Among them were several Willets and a pair of Hudsonian Whimbrel. 

As I scoped the flock I also picked up several Forster's Terns and a single Common Tern.

Nearby, on the causeway, a male Boat-tailed Grackle screamed for some attention.

We were there, however, for a Gull-billed Tern that would be a lifer for me, but unfortunately it didn't show.

Continuing on along the ocean drive we made a stop at a marsh viewing area and walked out to look for Seaside Sparrows. It was hot and dry in the middle of the afternoon so only fly-by Tricolored Herons and the Alligators were showing.

Returning to an empty lot we walked down to the ocean to check out a portion of the marsh for the Gull-billed Tern. 

A nearby retention pond held several Greater Yellowlegs, and the delta gave us nice looks at fly-by Least Terns.

Not seeing the Gull-billed Tern we decided that we'd come back Saturday morning (permission pending) and see what goodies might be available under cooler, earlier conditions.

Prince George Community, Georgetown, SC, Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 1:28 PM - 2:28 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.781 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Clear, 80F
34 species

Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)  2
Sora (Porzana carolina)  1
Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)  1
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)  4
Hudsonian Whimbrel (Numenius hudsonicus)  2
Willet (Tringa semipalmata)  8
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)  1
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)  4
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)  1
Least Tern (Sternula antillarum)  4
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)  2
Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)  4
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)  1
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis)  4
Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus)  8
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)  2
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)  3
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)  1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)  1
Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis)  6
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  2
Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis)  1     Merlin picked up chips notes at entrance to Prince George. While Janet typed in code I heard then saw woodpecker w large white cheek patch working up trunk of long-leaf pine. Pics from inside car w 200-600mm lens and Sony a1.
Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)  1
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)  2
Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus)  1
Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)  1
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)  1
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)  1
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)  2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)  1
Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)  1
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S326104910
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Returning home we had a couple of hours to relax before heading over to Ken and Julie's house in the Litchfield Plantation. While Ken drove us around the community in his golf cart Julie prepared an OUTSTANDING Seafood Larriviere (lasagna-style layered potatoes, shrimp, crab, fish and cheeses).

Near the community pool Ken walked us down to the edge of the marsh where a King Rail was calling across the canal. We were able to get recordings and submit the rare-bird report to eBird.

We then returned to the house and had a wonderful meal and visit on the porch while watching the feeders: Brown Thrashers, Eastern Bluebirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, and even a late Yellow-rumped Warbler.

As it was now getting late we said our good-byes and headed back home. Tomorrow Ken, Jack and I would drive to Marion County to look for (and hopefully photograph) Swainson's Warblers and Kentucky Warblers in a historic lowland swamp.

Litchfield Plantation Pawleys Island (private), Georgetown, South Carolina, US
Apr 23, 2026 6:16 PM - 6:33 PM
Protocol: Traveling
0.825 mile(s)
4 species

King Rail (Rallus elegans)  1     Known breeding location in freshwater marsh; slow deep resonant kek kek kek
Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)  2
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)  4
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S326198426
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)

Back at the House Cocoa made a visit downstairs where I was sleeping so we Facetimed w/ Robin together. She's too adorable!