Conservation // 8 min Read

In the Field: May Eye to the Sky

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Activity in the Conservancy’s nest boxes ramped up in April with bluebirds tending to their first set of eggs and chicks. On average, bluebirds lay 2-3 clutches of eggs every year with roughly 4-6 weeks invested in each brood.

Bluebird on her nest.
Bluebird on her nest.
Bluebird chicks.
Bluebird chicks.

We were thrilled to learn the leucistic bluebird from March has begun nesting in a bluebird house! The Conservancy was graciously allowed to include the private nest box in their bluebird surveys, and while we are unsure of the odds of any offspring displaying the same mutation, we are eager to see what happens.

Leucistic bluebird [Photo provided by Jean Andersen]
Leucistic bluebird [Photo provided by Jean Andersen]
Bluebird eggs.
Bluebird eggs.

We also observed tufted titmice and eastern screech-owls sitting on their respective eggs in the Conservancy’s cavity nest boxes. The titmice were quite defensive in the presence of intruders while the screech-owls relied on their camouflage to avoid confrontation.

Tufted titmouse and her eggs.
Tufted titmouse and her eggs.
Screech owls with eggs.
Screech owls with eggs.

Killdeer, a species of plover often sighted in grassy habitats, had chicks on the move in mid-April. Their downy young are mobile shortly after hatching and could be seen scurrying across Old Moreland road by the lagoons. Keep an eye out for them!

Camouflaged killdeer chicks.
Camouflaged killdeer chicks.

Meanwhile, cardinals, hummingbirds, catbirds, and other feathered residents also began nesting in April. Many species use shrubs and small trees as shelter for their open-cup nests, the thick foliage acting as a defense against predators. This makes it important to be vigilant while pruning plants to avoid harming or exposing any nests, eggs, or chicks.

Mid-April saw the return of painted buntings to Beaufort County. At Palmetto Bluff, the bragging rights for first sighting went to the Conservancy’s executive director, Jay Walea. A rainbow-colored male became a regular at the Conservancy classroom’s bird feeders, and it will hopefully stick around for the summer.

Painted bunting at the Conservancy.
Painted bunting at the Conservancy.

The flycatchers returned with sightings of great crested flycatchers, eastern kingbirds, eastern wood-pewees, and Acadian flycatchers. The great crested flycatcher is the only eastern species to nest in tree cavities and should begin building nests in the Conservancy’s cavity nest boxes come May.

In Barge Landing, a blue grosbeak and black-and-white warbler were spotted while the “pit-ti-tuk” calls of summer tanagers could be heard through the woods of River Road Preserve. Yellow-throated and red-eyed vireos began their inquisitive calls of, “Where are you? Here I am! I am here!” in the canopy of River Road Preserve. For anyone who spent time around Longfield Stables, the cattle egrets were seen strutting behind the horses in search of insects. Lastly, yellow-billed cuckoos were heard at night calling and gorging themselves on tent caterpillars, which in turn were feeding on newly formed oak leaves.

Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak

The aforementioned species will all be likely sightings in May with the peak of migration occurring early in the month. May is a great time to look for the swallow-tailed and Mississippi kites as more individuals arrive from their South American wintering grounds. In the past, Mississippi kites were seen around Wilson Village and the Duck Pond while swallow-tailed kites have already been documented this year around The Farm.

Mississippi kite.
Mississippi kite.

In 2020, a peculiar, solitary bobwhite quail was residing in the wetland by the Conservancy classroom; a year-round species, bobwhites are not normally seen in the developed areas of Palmetto Bluff. Maybe he will find his way back to Moreland? Chimney swifts will also arrive in May, which is a great reminder to make sure your chimney caps are in good shape, and to always check the flue before lighting any fires.

While Baltimore orioles are the more commonly documented species of oriole in Beaufort County, they leave for the summer and are replaced by the slightly more elusive orchard orioles. It has been a long time since orchard orioles were last documented at Palmetto Bluff, but keep your eyes peeled for these black and chestnut-colored beauties. And last, but certainly not least, look out for any warblers, grosbeaks, and buntings passing through or claiming territory at the Bluff. A warbler of particular interest to the Conservancy’s educator is the ovenbird. They have been observed in River Road Preserve, Sandhill Loop, and Headwaters Nature trail and the educator would love to hear of any sightings of this unique warbler species.

Ovenbird
Ovenbird

For those who wish to get involved in bird watching, on Saturday, May 8th the Cornell Lab of Ornithology will be hosting the annual Global Big Day. This event is an all-day effort to document as many birds as possible during peak migration. In 2020, the Conservancy documented a total of 60 species which included nine species of warbler, a wood thrush, and yellow-billed cuckoos. To participate, either submit checklists through the eBird app, or register for one of the Conservancy bird walks scheduled on the big day. The Conservancy is looking forward to the global event and encourages everyone to join in on the fun!

May brings the same excitement as April when it comes to bird diversity. If you see or photograph something you wish to share, you can submit your sightings to Aaron Palmieri at apalmieri@pbconservancy.org and they may appear in next month’s update!

April’s Unique Sightings:

  • Leucistic Bluebird (Barge Landing)
  • Swallow-tailed Kite (Old Moreland Road)
  • Painted Bunting (Conservancy Classroom)
  • Eastern Kingbird (Longfield Stables)
  • Cattle Egret (Longfield Stables)
  • Blue Grosbeak (Barge Landing)
  • Black-and-white Warbler (Barge Landing)
  • Eastern Wood-Pewee (Managed Forest)
  • Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Managed Forest)

April Contributors:

Jean Andersen, Jay Walea, Brian Byrne, Carol Riddick, John Capps, Jeanne & Paul Yhouse, Annie Kosh, Gail Garcia

Click to open a printable version.
Click to open a printable version.

Architecture & Design
Moreland Village: Laid Back Luxury

Palmetto Bluff’s Moreland Village feels a world away from the more traditional architecture of the iconi...

Jun 2025

Culture
2025 Inspiring the Arts Scholarship Recipients

We are thrilled to introduce the inaugural winners of the Inspiring the Arts Scholarship—three extraordinary young women pursuing their artistic dreams through higher education! Katherine Donahue has been named our first official scholarship recipient, with Em...

Jun 2025

Culture
Summer Style in the Bluff: Discover What’s New in Retail

From handmade jewelry to performance wear, the latest arrivals at Palmetto Bluff’s retail spots capture the season in true Lowcountry style. This summer, the Bluff’s shops are full of fresh finds, carefully chosen by our trusted retailers—including FLOW Galler...

Jun 2025

Conservation
Citizen Science

Citizen Science is Thriving at Palmetto BluffDid you know that residents of Palmetto Bluff are playing a vital role in national and global conservation efforts—all from their backyard?Through the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy’s growing Citizen Science programs, c...

Jun 2025

Artist in Residence
Music Mosaic

In October 2024, Grammy Award-winning musician Clay Ross visited Palmetto Bluff as part of The Arts Initiative's Artist in Residence Program. Through storytelling and song, he explores identity, heritage, and the universal language of sound. By Barry Kaufman ...

Jun 2025

Food & Wine
Peach Perfect

Palmetto Bluff Club Executive Chef  Beth Cosgrove and Director of Culinary, Chef Rhy Waddington, Cook Up Four Peachy Recipes for a Summer in the South. Is there anything more iconic than a southern peach? A symbol of summer and Southern heritage, the peach car...

Jun 2025

Culture
Finding Fish

Following the tides and angling for redfish in Lowcountry creeks and estuaries with Captains Brian Vaughn and Will Stephens Story by Sandy Lang It is a sunny morning in October and the water is calm and glassy. The silence is punctuated by a gush of breath f...

Jun 2025
home upkeep checklist

Real Estate
Get Ahead of Spring Cleaning: How to Upkeep Your Luxury Lowcountry Home

7 Ways To Upkeep Your Palmetto Bluff Home As spring arrives in the Lowcountry, the change in season brings more than blooming marshlands and sun-drenched afternoons; it’s also a perfect time to refresh and care for your Palmetto Bluff home. Coastal living mea...

May 2025

Discover the Next Great Chapter in Golf Course Design, Only at Palmetto Bluff

When the land speaks, you listen. And at Palmetto Bluff, it spoke to two of golf’s most legendary course designers—Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. We invite you to watch our newest video, shot this past winter and featuring Bill and Ben, along with South Street P...

May 2025
home renovations 2025

Architecture & Design
Renovations That Will Increase Your Home’s Value in 2025

5 Renovations to Increase the Value of Your Lowcountry Home Whether Palmetto Bluff is your full-time residence or a cherished retreat, deciding to sell is never a quick or casual choice. However, when the time does come, you want your home to be as market-rea...

May 2025

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us