Date: 12/21/25 1:52 pm From: Wayne Hoffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Burrowing Owl at Ft. Sumter NM, Charleston, SC
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
