Muhlenbergia filipes, also known commonly by the nickname Sweetgrass, began to mature around LSSI yesterday! Sweetgrass is hands down the crowd favorite as far as plants around the island go; when mature, the color bursts forth with a shock of bright pink, which quickly becomes a rich purple, then fades slowly through the season. The plants form a stunning landscape when they all bloom together over large areas.

The plant is in the family Poaceae, with other grasses. It grows in clumps, and the clumps often grow very close together. This provides a great habitat and forage base for many small island rodents, rabbits, and ground birds. Rattlesnakes can also be found abundantly in areas where “Muhly-grass” grows.

The grass can be dried, and the stems used for weaving of baskets, mats, and other decorative items. This tradition has been passed through many generations of coastal residents, and often times you can find the ornate weavings at local art shows.

During Fall Birding Days, we were treated to a few nice bird surprises, including a Lark Sparrow. The Lark Sparrow is only a scarce visitor to the southern east coast in the fall; usually it is found out west. The sparrow is very striking, a large sparrow with distinctive markings. The head is very strongly patterned and the bird has a single dark chest spot. It also has very obvious white outer tail feathers. These field marks are very helpful in identification, and guest ornithologist Chris Depkin was the first to spot this uncommon visitor. The bird was found over the course of several days, near River Beach and the very northern end of East Myrtle Pond Road.

Other nice bird finds were Gray Kingbird, Indigo Bunting, and Blackburnian Warbler. Also, Northern Harrier have returned to LSSI in the past week or so. Adult and juvenile harriers have been seen throughout the island.

Thanks again to Giff Beaton, Dr. Bob Cooper, and Chris Depkin for helping out with Fall Birding Days!

September is a busy month for wildlife on the island! The baby alligators are still very near the nest and visible to guests who (cautiously!) approach accompanied by a naturalist. There have been two baby eastern diamondback rattlesnake sightings since the month began; one on Beach Road and one on Sancho Panza Road.  Sightings of adults have become more common again as the weather has cooled slightly. We have also continued to see and hear lots of Green and Squirrel Treefrogs, as well as Southern Leopard frogs; they are taking advantage of all the puddles of freshwater left by recent rains.

It’s Lovebug season on LSSI; these little twosomes are taking flight all over the island. But don’t worry, they don’t bite! Speaking of insects, many butterflies are being seen. Most notable are the Gulf Fritillary and Monarchs with bright orange patterns. Several types of Swallowtail, Sulphur, Whites, and Skippers have been seen recently as well.

The fall migration is underway, no matter where you are on the island. Resident Bald Eagles have returned; we are seeing both adult and immature eagles all over the island. Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, and Northern Harrier have been on the beach and over the marshes. Huge flocks of White Ibis are spending time in the marshes, alongside Cattle Egret, Snowy Egret, and decent numbers of Glossy Ibis. Least Bittern have been seen from the tower, and a few Black Terns are still flying over Myrtle Pond as well. A King Rail was heard on the north end of Myrtle Pond yesterday afternoon. Blue-winged Teal are also at Myrtle Pond.

Large flocks of Fish Crow are flying over Mosquito Creek. Curious looking Boat-tailed Grackles who are molting tail feathers are a sight to see. From a kayak, you can hear and see Seaside Sparrow, Marsh and Sedge Wren, Clapper Rail, Spotted Sandpiper, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat Warbler, and Roseate Spoonbill. In the woods, many warbler have been noted, including Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Yellow-throated, Pine, Prairie, Black and White, Prothonotary, and American Redstart. Other songbirds include Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Gray Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Brown Thrasher, Summer Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Northern Cardinal, Indigo Bunting, and a few lingering Painted Bunting.

Beach birds include Reddish Egret, Black-bellied, Wilson’s, Semipalmated, and Piping Plover, Killdeer, American Oystercatcher, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated, Western, and Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing, Ring-billed, Herring, Lesser Black-backed, and Great Black-backed Gull, Caspian, Royal, Sandwich, Common, and Forster’s Tern, and Black Skimmer.

We are starting to see a nice variety of woodland species move through the island. Species include Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Prairie Warbler, American Redstart, and Blue Grosbeak. Summer Tanager are also abundant, although many of these may have been residents throughout the summer. Barn Swallows are found in good numbers throughout the island. There are many more Glossy Ibis present around the island than in recent years, and some of them may have come from breeding areas farther inland. Blue-winged Teal, usually the earliest waterfowl to migrate through the area, are being seen in Myrtle Pond in groups numbering around 25.

In July, the maintenance staff at LSSI began a project to improve roads by using using dirt from a “borrow pit.” They found a small freshwater pond in the woods near where they were doing work and told the naturalists about it.  We discovered a pair of alligators at the pond, and also an active nest. Each time we approached the pond, the female was very vigilant and closely guarded the nest. On Saturday, we took our guests to the pond to see the nest, and were delighted to find that it had hatched! There were at least 35 tiny alligators visible near the nest, in the pond, and on the mother’s head. Some were camouflaged with duckweed. The female alligator continued to keep a close eye on her young; as we approached, she quickly swam up to the edge of the bank where the nest was located. We enjoyed watching the babies from a safe distance and left soon after. We have been back to check on the little ones a few times, and all seem very active!

The photos below are courtesy of island guests Len and Deb Epley.

Naturalists on LSSI make flower arrangements for our tables using plants found right here on the island. While out gathering some grasses and flowers for some new arrangements, Theresa was treated to a fun sight. She glimpsed a large bird flying overhead. Expecting to see a Turkey or Black Vulture, she was happy to see that instead it was a Red-tailed Hawk. Making the sighting even more exciting, the hawk was clasping a large Black Rat Snake in its talons! She only got a quick look, then the hawk flew up and over the treeline and out of sight. Along with snakes, Red-tailed Hawks diet on rodents, fish, amphibians, and sometimes other birds.

Red Knots on LSSI have been seen in groups numbering upwards of 750 in the past week, with one sighting just north of LSSI counted 1000 + birds. These birds are stopping over to forage and bulk up on their southbound journey. Many other migrants are present as well; Piping Plover are here and will stay the winter. We are also seeing Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, American Oystercatcher, Semi-palmated Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Least Tern, Royal Tern, Black Tern, Caspian Tern, Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, and Sanderling, among others. A Peregrine Falcon was seen spooking a group of terns on the beach this morning. A group of over 100 adult White Ibis were feeding in the marsh this morning, and a Summer Tanager was seen in the compound early in the day. Flocks of hundreds of Tree Swallows are beginning to amass in the shrubby Wax Myrtle habitat. Fall birding is underway and it’s always a treat to get out and see which new birds you can discover on the island!