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I have recently partnered with the Charleston Parks Conservancy and we co-host Birding events at different Charleston Parks. This partnership has encouraged me to explore parks that I have never birded before! Carr Richardson Park is a new Charleston Park that opened this past February. This small park offers a vast tidal marsh habitat, wooded habitat and a brushy perimeter. This wonderful park also boasts long views of the Ashley River, Ravenel Bridge, and the Citadel. Carr Richardson Park is not yet ranked on eBird but has an amazing variety of habitats with lots of different bird species!
I visited this park twice this fall and both visits yielded lots of bird activity from songbirds to shorebirds! My first visit was greeted with a flurry of songbird activity throughout the majestic Oak trees. The bustle of birds displayed flashes of blues, reds, deep browns, and yellow! I walked to a higher viewing spot near the brushy edge that allowed me to be eye level with the lower Oak tree branches. Grabbing my binoculars I began to pick out individual birds. I enjoyed views of Eastern Bluebirds, Tufted Titmice, House Finch, Downy Woodpeckers, Kinglets and several more awesome birds! A small bright yellow bird caught my attention, I quickly pursued and discovered it was a beautiful Prairie Warbler!
Along the curvy Oak branches Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers foraged and vocalized. I also spotted 2 White-breasted Nuthatches creeping along the Oak tree.
In November the same Oak tree stand provided a mixed flock of activity with some new winter residents. There were many Myrtle Warblers, Palm Warblers and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. As I walked the picturesque pathway toward the tidal marsh lots of sparrows were calling from the thick brush. The curious sparrows moved closer but mostly remained hidden.
At the end of the pathway there are vast open views of tidal marsh. In October I was able to catch a lower tide that revealed areas of pluff mud. The muddy flats attracted Black-bellied Plovers, Short-billed Dowitchers and a Killdeer. Unplanned, my visit in November was during a high tide. In the same area of the marsh now filled with water I watched a small flock of Hooded Mergansers and two Belted Kingfishers that were hovering and diving. Across the marsh near a very cool Schooner was a Live Oak tree filled with roosting egrets and herons.
As I was halfway back down the marsh pathway I happened to look back at a calling Song Sparrow when suddenly in the distance I noticed splashing in the water. I quickly realized there were two playful River Otters in the open water. I raced back down the pathway hoping to capture a photograph but the River Otters quickly disappeared.
Along the brushy edge an energetic songbird called an Orange-crowned Warbler was searching for insects along the small branches and leaves.
I continued to walk the perimeter pathway and I found more birds throughout the brushy thicket. I encountered a variety of sparrows, wrens, Gray Catbirds, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, more Tufted Titmice and Carolina Chickadees.
Carr Richardson is a hidden gem of a park with wonderful views and lots of birds! This a great small park to explore with kids too, there is even a playground. After two brief trips to this special park I discovered 46 species of birds and 236 individual birds! eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S155387136
The Charleston Parks Conservancy and Holy City Birding are hosting a free Birding event on December the 16th from 7:30am-9:30am, open to anyone interested. Here is a sign up link: BIRDING EVENT
Happy Birding,
Charles
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