Kiawah Island

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Kiawah Island Brush Strokes

I walked six and a half miles (10.5 km) to the east end of Kiawah Island after witnessing a breathtaking sunrise on the very narrow high-tide beach. I had read that in this area, there is a year-around sea bird sanctuary that I wanted to see. Though Kiawah’s beach is very expansive during low tides, my walk East had to be restricted to a very narrow corridor where the beach ends and the sand dunes begin. In one segment, the beach corridor was totally interrupted by the high tide and I had to move inland, beyond the sand dunes, to continue my progress East.

Kiawah Island has always had a great appeal for Elizabeth and me because of the incredible wild life that is abundant here. Alligators, bobcats, deer, egrets, sand pipers, sea gulls, pelicans, sea turtles, and many other species roam the island and are easy to observe in their natural environment. The island is a planned community where the economic activity centers around the five world-class golf courses that operate year around. Many people come here for the golf alone, but others like us, are attracted by the natural state of the island in spite of the human inhabitants and the golf courses. At only 21 miles (34 km) from Charleston, South Carolina, Kiawah Island is also a good base to explore this historical region of the Eastern Coast of the United States.

My long walk to the end of the island was rewarded by the view of thousands of birds, mostly sand pipers, but also groups of pelicans and sea gulls. I restricted my movements to the beach area and tried to move as slowly as possible to prevent disturbing the birds unnecessarily. After some time there, I started my six-and-a-half-mile walk back to my base, this time over a much wider beach area left by the receding tide. My family was waiting for me to have brunch together. We had been in the island since Thursday evening, but the weather had been mostly rainy until Sunday afternoon when we finally got to see some blue skies.

We have not minded the rainy weather too much. The purpose of this last trip of the year is to unwind, and enjoy each other’s company while recharging our batteries for 2008. In sharp contrast with most of my trips, this one has not had a tightly set schedule and is relying on whatever we feel doing as we close 2007 together.

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Photos

Sunrise at Kiawah
On Monday, we finally had a clear sunrise to enjoy!

Charlie
One of the local kids told me that this adult alligator's name is "Charlie"... He has taken residence in one of the largest ponds in Kiawah

Professor Plume
My family gave this great egret this name because of his studious gaze and the French word for "feather" (a comical twist of the famous game board character)

Professor Plume at Work
This elegant great egret has learned to collaborate with human fishermen to the point that he recognizes when a fish has been caught

Comments

[Alan and Donna]

Thanks for reminding me of my favorite beach
It's been many years since I visited Kiawah Island. Your photos of my favorite beach are a reminder that I should re-visit soon. Great work!

[Omega]

Thanks for reminding me of my favorite beach
Thanks for the comment. You do need to re-visit. I would like to read a blog of yours about Kiawah Island. I enjoyed very much your recent Queenstown report.

[karen033]

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These photos are very quiet beautiful!