Twitcher’s Patch: the Birding Blog of Hilton Head Island and Beyond
Welcome to Twitcher’s Patch—a blog where passionate birders (“twitchers”) and nature lovers can discover the magic of their favorite birdwatching spots (“patches”) across Hilton Head Island, the Lowcountry and beyond.
Here, you’ll find stories, tips, and field notes inspired by the region’s extraordinary diversity—over 330 bird species thrive in habitats ranging from sandy beaches and lush forests to protected wetlands and vibrant marshes. Whether you’re searching for the perfect shot, planning your next birding adventure, or simply curious about the unique charm of Lowcountry wildlife, this blog is your guide to unforgettable experiences, ethical birding, and creative photography in one of America’s premier birding destinations.
You’ll also find tales from my birding travels beyond the Lowcountry, as I seek out new species and inspiring landscapes across the country.
Let’s explore the wonders of Hilton Head and beyond—one patch, one bird, and one story at a time.
Summer Birding Essentials: What to Wear and Bring for Birding in Hot Weather
Discover the best summer birding essentials, including clothing, gear, hydration tips, and accessories to stay comfortable while birding in hot weather.
My Mother and the Crows
A simple bird bath on Hilton Head Island led to unexpected encounters with American Crows, revealing their intelligence and the joys of birdwatching in place.
Reading Birds in Silhouette
Learn how to photograph bird silhouettes by focusing on shape, light, and gesture. A field-based guide to creating powerful backlit bird images without relying on detail.
Following the Tide: Whimbrels, Monkey Island, and Spring Migration in the ACE Basin
Experience spring migration in South Carolina’s ACE Basin on a sunrise boat trip to Otter Island and Morgan Island. Photograph Whimbrels, migrating shorebirds, rhesus monkeys, and smoky Lowcountry skies from the water.
White Ibis at Ibis Pond: Breeding Season at Pinckney Island
During breeding season, White Ibis gather in large nesting colonies across the South Carolina Lowcountry. In this post, I visit Ibis Pond at Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, where hundreds of White Ibis filled the palm hammock and understory beneath the palmettos. Alongside Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, and Boat-tailed Grackles, the rookery was alive with movement, vocalizations, territorial behavior, and nesting activity. This post explores the experience of photographing and observing a Lowcountry rookery during peak breeding season.
Earth Day in the Backyard: Letting the Wild Feed the Birds
Explore backyard birds in spring through Earth Day field notes from Hilton Head Island, and see why native trees, caterpillars, and water matter more than seed for nesting birds—a lesson that holds true in backyards everywhere.
Read the Bird: Using the Shoreline to Frame Shorebirds
A field-based approach to shorebird photography at high tide—using shoreline layers, light, and a 70–200 lens to capture behavior, composition, and seasonal plumage.
Mother’s Day Gift Guide for Birders and Nature Lovers
Help the birder or nature-loving mom in your life feel seen with meaningful Mother’s Day gifts—from beginner-friendly binoculars and comfy sun-safe clothing to backyard birding setups and mindful outdoor experiences. Perfect for new birdwatchers, quiet observers, and anyone who finds grounding in time outside.
Meet the Orange-Alert Shorebirds of Hilton Head Island Part 2: Red Knot (A Species at a Tipping Point)
Discover Red Knots on Hilton Head Island during spring migration. Learn why this Orange Alert “tipping point” shorebird depends on Lowcountry mudflats to rest and refuel along the Atlantic Flyway.
Don't Fight the Flock: How to Compose Bird Photos That Tell a Story
Learn how to compose bird photos that tell a story — from the decisive moment to negative space, gesture, and working within a mixed flock.
Birding for Beginners: A Practical Guide to Getting Started (and Actually Seeing More Birds)
Start birding today with this beginner-friendly guide. Learn what you need, how to identify birds, and simple tips to see more every time.
Painted Bunting South Carolina: Season, Spots, and Field Notes from the Lowcountry
Where and when to find Painted Buntings in the Lowcountry - Coastal South Carolina — habitat, timing, Hilton Head field notes, and tips for seeing and photographing them.
Pastel Dawn Skies and Lowcountry Birds: The Rayleigh Effect
What turns a Hilton Head dawn pastel pink and gold? The physics of Rayleigh scattering - and the shorebirds and egrets that appear with the rising tide and light along the coast.
What to Wear Birding in the Lowcountry: A Hilton Head Guide to Heat, Bugs, Mud, and Marshes
Practical guide to what to wear birding in the Lowcountry. Clothing and gear tips for birding and bird photography around Hilton Head Island’s marshes and beaches. A Hilton Head birding guide’s checklist for what to wear in the humid Lowcountry—quick‑dry shirts, zipper‑pocket pants, footwear for mud, rain layers, and bug defense.
Japanese Aesthetics in Lowcountry Photography (Part 1): Wabi-Sabi and Impermanence
Wabi-sabi the Japanese art of impermanence transforms how you photograph shorebirds on Hilton Head Island. Marbled Godwits and Sanderlings in minimal coastal light.
Birding Northern Greece: Lake Kerkini and the Dalmatian Pelicans
Lake Kerkini, Greece draws thousands of Dalmatian Pelicans in winter. Field notes and eye-level portraits from a cold morning on the water's edge in the northern Balkans.
Birding Northern Greece: Thessaloniki to the Kalochori Wetlands
A winter birding arrival in Northern Greece - landing in Thessaloniki, then tracking flamingos and shorebirds south to the wetlands of the Thermaic Gulf.
Central Florida: Birds, Burrows, and Back Roads
Birding Florida's Van Fleet Trail by bike in January - warblers, wading birds, gopher tortoises and the quiet backroads of Central Florida's farm and wetlands.
Meet the Orange-Alert Shorebirds of Hilton Head Island Part 1: Black-bellied Plover
How to identify the Black-bellied Plover on Hilton Head Island through the seasons of migration. Plus its plumage, feeding habits and Orange Alert conservation status.
Winter Visitors on the Pinckney Island NWR Ponds
This field-note birding walk on Pinckney Island NWR, from the Main Trail to Ibis, Starr, and Osprey Ponds, as winter birds settle in. Hooded Mergansers, American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, cormorants, kingfishers, and small songbirds.