Birding Pickney Island

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation. -- Genesis 1:20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”

Colorful male Painted Bunting bird perched on a branch in Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge... what a wonderful place! Every time I vacation on Hilton Head Island, I have to make at least one visit to the refuge. Our second morning, while the ladies went to the outlet mall, I spent six hours hiking the refuge. The first bird I spotted was the main bird I had hoped to see - a Painted Bunting. 

Colorful male Painted Bunting bird perched on a branch in Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Northern Cardinal bird perched on a branch in Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Pickney Island, located on the bridge between Hilton Head Island and the mainland,  is 3.8 miles long and 1.75 miles across its greatest width. It consists of several habitats including salt marsh, tidal creeks, forestland, brushland, fallow fields and freshwater ponds. 

Boat-tailed Grackle blackbird perched on a branch and Spanish Moss in Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. The boat-tailed grackle, Quiscalus major, is a resident on the coasts and saltwater marsh of the Southeastern United States.

The common gallinule, Gallinula galeata, is a water bird in the rail family. Common in pond, marsh, swamp, lake and wet habitat. Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Female Boat-tailed Grackle perched on a stick over water. Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. The boat-tailed grackle, Quiscalus major, is found on the coasts of the Southeastern United States. It is found in coastal saltwater marshes and, in Florida, also on inland waters.

Anhinga on Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. sometimes called snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a water bird.

Black-crowned Night-heron bird perched on a limb in a rookery on Pickney Island NWR near Hilton Head, South Carolina. Nycticorax nycticorax, or black-capped night heron, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world.

The Snowy Egret, Egretta thula, is a small white heron with long bill and long legs. Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA.

Anhinga on Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. sometimes called snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a water bird.

Anhinga on Pickney Island National Wildlife Refuge near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA. sometimes called snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey, is a water bird.

Black-crowned Night-heron bird perched on a limb in a rookery on Pickney Island NWR near Hilton Head, South Carolina. Nycticorax nycticorax, or black-capped night heron, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world.