Santee Coastal Reserve

McClellanville, SC 29458, USA

VB
Ventures Birding Tours
  • Email address verified
105 reviews
Oct 22, 2022
Group size: 3 - 10
Santee Coastal Reserve
McClellanville, SC 29458, USA

Ventures Birding Tours
  • Email address verified
105 reviews

$60
Oct 22, 2022
Group size: 3 - 10

About this trip

A full day birding trip with several miles of hiking through several miles of open mature longleaf pine forest, as well as driving to managed wetlands.


Santee Coastal Reserve is a wildlife management area in coastal South Carolina focused on managing wetland habitats for many high priority conservation species in the southeastern United States. This full day birding trip will begin at the entrance and go through several miles of open mature longleaf pine forests where we would expect all the mature pine species to occur: Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated Warbler and Bachman’s Sparrow (present but difficult to locate in fall), and in the understory, Northern Bobwhite, Common Yellowthroat, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo and Painted Buntings. 

As we leave the pine forest and proceed through the hardwood areas, fall migrants such as thrushes, vireos, flycatchers, and warblers could be plentiful. This part of the tour will be driving and stopping at various points, and we will drive to the Big Well area, an area of 5 managed wetlands along the South Santee River that is specifically managed for shorebirds.  There will be a short hike here to find the unit that has the most activity.  Over 20 species of shorebirds have been recorded here in the past with rarities such as Ruff, Hudsonian Godwit, and Wilson’s Phalarope., and this is a great place for Barn Owl.  After this we will hike approximately 1.5 miles through woodlands and wetlands that are managed for waterfowl. Waterfowl will begin showing up in early September, and all the wading birds to be found in coastal South Carolina will be found here, including South Carolina’s new resident wading bird, Roseate Spoonbill. The entire area is 24,000 acres, and we will only be able to cover a part of this birding paradise. One can easily expect to observe approximately 80 species here in one day, and more if conditions are right. 

Be prepared to fend off biting insects, they are unpredictable. Long-sleeved shirts, pants, and insect repellents usually work well here. Deer archery season is open during this trip, and we will be required to wear blaze orange vests (provided by Ventures). 

What’s included

  • 1 birding guide

What’s not included

  • lunch
  • transportation

Available Packages

Trip Price
$60

Your Organizer


VB
Ventures Birding Tours
105 reviews
Small travel company based in Asheville, NC, specializing in birding & nature tours both locally & worldwide.

Reviews

Our guide was excellent - really worked hard to get us on the birds, including the near endemics in Guatemala. We also saw some of the lovely tourist spots, like Antigua and the Mayan city of Tikal. Food was excellent - lots of fresh vegetables. Scenery was spectacular - lovely pine/oak forests with bromeliads, volcanoes, and Lake Atitlan. We felt very safe there.
By Barbara R for Guatemala Highlights 2025 on Feb 18, 2025
Wasn’t able to make the trip.
By Alan L for Guatemala - Goldman's Warbler & Ocellated Quail on Feb 14, 2025
Guides knew where the rare birds were. The climate was cool. Good was good for vegetarians. Lovely scenery
By Barbara R for Guatemala - Goldman's Warbler & Ocellated Quail on Feb 14, 2025
This trip did not happen. Everyone who signed up cancelled because of the extremely cold and windy conditions predicted.
By Vicki N for Pond Mountain, Ashe County, NC on Jan 16, 2025
Our trip with Simon Thomson and Venture Birding to Tranquilo Bay in Panama was just fantastic. Simon knows every bird by sound and sight. Our local guides based out of Tranquilo Bay Ecolodge were wonderful. They worked so hard to make sure we will able to see and experience birds in their natural habitat. We would highly recommend tours with Venture Birding and specifically at Tranquilo Bay.
By John A for Panama - Tranquilo Bay '24 on Dec 30, 2024
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