Date: 12/22/25 8:03 am From: Tammy H (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Burrowing Owl at Ft. Sumter NM, Charleston, SC
The Harbor Island SC Burrowing owl was seen for about a week from 7/30/2018
through 8/5/2018. There was a Burrowing Owl seen on Kiawah Island beach
which is in/near Charleston SC also. That owl was seen for a few days at
the end of January 2016.
Neither owl was identified to the subspecies.
Tammy Hester
Beaufort, SC
On Sun, Dec 21, 2025 at 6:51 PM Buddy Campbell <blacksnake6...>
wrote:
> All,
> In late July and early August a Burrowing Owl was found, by Tammy Hester,
> in the dunes on Harbor Island in Beaufort County. I do not remember how
> long it stayed or what the outcome was. Perhaps Tammy can provide some
> insight.
>
>
> Buddy
>
> On Dec 21, 2025, at 4:52 PM, Wayne Hoffman <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> Interesting.
>
> The nearest population is in Florida, but they are considered sedentary.
> Some of those out west are migratory, hence more likely to wander/stray,
> and have occurred in some eastern states.
>
> According to Pyle (1997) western one are larger and "plumage pale brown
> with buff mottling and spotting..." Florida ones "plumage dark brown with
> whitish spotting and mottling"
> In addition they differ in the amount of feathering on their tarsi:
> extends more than half way down the front of the tarsi on western ones,
> less than half way on Floridians.
>
> It would be really interesting to know which it is.
>
> Wayne Hoffman
> Wilmington
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From: *"Craig Watson" <carolinabirds...>
> *To: *"carolinabirds" <carolinabirds...>
> *Sent: *Saturday, December 20, 2025 8:54:59 PM
> *Subject: *Burrowing Owl at Ft. Sumter NM, Charleston, SC
>
> There is a Burrowing Owl at Ft. Sumter NM, Charleston, SC, accessible only
> by ferry. The owl is roosting in two locations. We didn't know of the
> second roost spot until today. We searched the other roost spot for hours
> the prior day without seeing the bird. Today we walked up and saw it.
>
>
>
> The first coordinate is the location of the tool bin or someone called it
> mining casement room. Coordinates for tool bin/room: (32.7527098,
> -79.8749704). This is where the owl was today. Once off the boat go
> through the main doors, turn left once inside and walk the inside edge of
> Ft. to the pin. There will be a concrete room with tools in it with no
> door, and a gate so you can't go in. The owl was sitting on top of
> the weedeater in there. Look at photos in eBird or the one attached for
> perspective and orientation. The owl in on the top right in photo. We
> briefly looked at it and photographed it, and left.
>
>
>
> The second location of where the owl roosts is on the same level but the
> walkway is closed so go up over the top and turn left then down the stairs
> to the cannon casement area. It has been seen perched on the rail, the
> cannon, and a ledge near the stairs, but I'd look everywhere if it's not in
> the tool room. Coordinates are: 32.752392, -79.874198
>
>
>
> Please do your best to not disturb the owl. I’ve heard reports of birders
> disturbing the birds, but I believe it’s mostly unsuspecting tourists, as
> there have been few birders out there. If the owl starts bobbing, it is
> agitated. It did not do that with us. We kept our distance at the tool bin
> and used zoom lens to grab the photos, that’s why it looks so close.
>
>
> If you take an early ferry there is an extended stay option for $5 that
> you can purchase if you want to catch the following ferry back and stay
> longer, this from Liberty Square. I believe there are only two ferries
> from Liberty Square, 11am and 2pm, so the extended stay is only optional
> for the 11am ferry. I'm not sure of arrangements from the ferry in Mount
> Pleasant from Patriot's Point. The extended stay purchase can only be done
> at the ticket office, but I understand the fare can be purchased online,
> just get the add on at the office.
>
>
> Apparently the owl has been there at least a month.
>
> --
>
> *"to live will be an awfully big adventure" - Peter Pan*
>
> Craig Watson
> Mount Pleasant, SC
>
>
