Endangered species

Endangered species

Friday 20th November 2020

It’s not every day that you see an endangered species and today we actually saw three Red Cockaded Woodpeckers! We woke this morning to perfect weather – a clear blue sky, a very light wind and temperatures that reached 70oF (21oC). We decided to move on to Georgetown, SC but not until the afternoon, so after a leisurely start we jumped in the “Dumb Dog” and rowed to shore to do some birding. We took the same trail as yesterday, but in reverse, or that’s what we would have done if we hadn’t been looking up into the trees and missed a turn! Anyway, we circled back, picked up the correct route and ten minutes later we found the Red Cockaded Woodpeckers. What a thrill! We have searched for them before on a family trip to Florida but without success, so these were “life birds” for us (meaning the first time we have seen them ever). We texted Tasha to tell her and she replied ... "are you sure they weren't parrots" ... how cheeky is that! These weren’t the only birds we saw this morning. It was much livelier than yesterday (no idea why) and we saw red bellied woodpecker, downy woodpecker, brown headed nuthatch, red breasted nuthatch, Carolina chickadee, ruby crowned kinglets, pine warbler, black vultures, turkey vultures and a bald eagle (later in the day).

Once back on the boat we made some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat during the trip and then we hauled up the anchor and headed out. We were sad to leave – Thoroughfare Creek was our favorite anchorage in the Waccamaw River – absolutely gorgeous. We had a relaxing 15-mile motor to Georgetown with deep water and no submerged logs! I think I’m mostly out of my funk after hitting the underwater tree yesterday. Anchoring here is quite challenging – limited space constrained by docks and the waterfront on one side and shallow water on the other, as well as super soft mud with poor holding! We weren’t happy with our first attempt so we pulled up and tried again and now we feel confident we are reasonably secure. We plan to spend two nights in the quaint little town.

Mike

33 21.819 N, 79 16.929 W

* Vianney – if you are reading this I wanted to tell you it was immediately after our phone call that we say the woodpeckers

Spanish moss drapes the trees with Cotinga at anchor at sunset (photo shot yesterday)

Thoroughfare Creek, Waccamaw River - absolutely gorgeous (photo shot yesterday)

Heading down the southern stretch of the Waccamaw River shortly before it merges with the Great Pee Dee River near Georgetown

Dinghy on a mooring - Georgetown