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.

Twitcher’s Patch is where I share stories and observations from time spent watching birds on Hilton Head Island, throughout the South Carolina Lowcountry, and in places farther afield. A patch is more than a birding location—it is a place returned to often enough to recognize its birds, habitats, seasons, and changing rhythms.

Here you will find articles about bird behavior, migration, and breeding; photography techniques, creative practice, and ethics; habitat, weather, and conservation; birding places and journeys; and practical guides for spending more rewarding time in the field. Each story grows from firsthand observation and a commitment to respectful birding and wildlife photography.

Whether you are hoping to better understand what birds are doing, strengthen your photography, prepare for a birding outing, or experience a landscape through its wildlife, Twitcher’s Patch invites you to look more closely—one place, one bird, and one story at a time.

Patricia Kappmeyer 4/22/26 Patricia Kappmeyer 4/22/26

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.

Patricia Kappmeyer 4/11/26 Patricia Kappmeyer 4/11/26

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.

Patricia Kappmeyer 12/6/25 Patricia Kappmeyer 12/6/25

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.

Patricia Kappmeyer 11/16/25 Patricia Kappmeyer 11/16/25

Heahflod

A field account from Hilton Head Island’s Port Royal Sound at high tide, featuring shorebird behavior. Least Sandpiper foraging among marsh grasses and pluff mud, Black Skimmers and gulls roosting, White Ibis preening and foraging.

Patricia Kappmeyer 10/13/24 Patricia Kappmeyer 10/13/24

Tides, Winds, and Egrets: A Post-Hurricane Marsh Experience

After Hurricane Milton passed offshore, I found myself immersed in a rare, up-close encounter with two egrets feeding in a storm-swept marsh. As the tide receded, Snowy and Great Egrets feasted on large shrimp, pushed inland by the surge, circling just feet from my lens. In 'Tides, Winds, and Egrets: A Post-Hurricane Marsh Experience,' I share the stunning details of this unforgettable moment in nature.

Patricia Kappmeyer 8/15/24 Patricia Kappmeyer 8/15/24

Shelter from the Storm: Shorebirds, Seabirds and more

During Tropical Storm Debby, shorebirds on Hilton Head Island huddled together for shelter, with smaller species like dunlins and least sandpipers using larger birds as windbreaks. Early migrants such as whimbrels and marbled godwits were found among the flocks, highlighting the start of shorebird migration in mid-August. Seabirds, including four species of terns and Black Skimmers, also sought refuge in the marshes, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of coastal wildlife during extreme weather.