Seven Best Birding Spots on Hilton Head Island (Plus)

I recently spent two weeks at Hilton Head Island. I usually spend a few weeks there each year. I go for plants and birds, not golfing and restaurants (except Hudson’s, where I must eat cluster oysters on every visit). I have been there in all seasons, which has given me a good perspective on finding interesting birds.

Hilton Head Island is a place where lots of wealthy people live in gated communities that visitors will never see. But there’s plenty of space available to non-residents who want to marvel at the old-growth hardwood forests, the endless estuaries and marshes, freshwater and brackish ponds, and the beaches teeming with life (outside of tourist areas). There will be some surprises on this list, even for experienced birders, I hope.

1. Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

Technically, this is not on Hilton Head Island, but it’s darned close. This entire island is the wildlife refuge, and visitors can walk or bicycle on trails along the entire island. The inland trails are as magical as the beach and marsh areas.

The highlight of any trip is a visit to the Rookery pond. I’ve never seen it without dozens of birds roosting, eating, breeding, and making lots of noise. In the winter there are White Ibises, and in April and May, Great Egrets roost there. On my last visit in early May, the babies were popping their fuzzy white heads out for all visitors to coo over.

You’ll see pretty much every kind of heron or egret you can think of (I haven’t seen a Reddish egret there), along with Common Gallinules, ducks, and songbirds (there are cattails, so of course there are Red-winged Blackbirds on them).

Many warblers drop by during migration season, as well as buntings and all kinds of songbirds, so you’ll have your hands full photographing and writing bird sightings down!

Don’t forget to keep an eye out for alligators in the ponds, especially young ones that blend in with the reeds very well. I’ve seen rabbits, deer, armadillos, and other wildlife on the more remote parts of the island. There is a page on the preserve’s website that lists all the bird, plant, and animal species seen there, with photos. This is a great reference.

If you go birding in only one place, this is the place to go. And it’s free! Note the lack of restrooms and water. Be prepared. Right over the bridge are gas stations, though.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge
The vehicle entrance is located on U.S. 278 between the two bridges that connect Hilton Head Island to the mainland.

2. Sea Pines Forest Preserve

This is another prized spot for birders. There are many ponds and swampy areas, so you’ll see songbirds and shorebirds there. When I was last there, an Osprey nest was right next to the Fish Island parking area, with babies visible to patient observers.

One thing I enjoy about the birds around here is that they aren’t shy. I nearly walked into a Great Blue Heron who was neither concerned about me or the large alligator about ten feet away from it.

It pays to keep your eyes open in the preserve. One time I was walking on one of the trails and found a woman on a bicycle, stopped in her tracks. There was a very small copperhead snake basking in the sun on the trail. I reassured the woman that the snake would not attack her and that she could just get on her bike and ride past it. She didn’t believe me, so I carefully walked around it (as far away on the path as possible, of course). When I didn’t die, she managed to get past it. So, don’t play with the snakes and alligators, and give them a wide berth. You’ll be fine.

The boardwalks and trails provide great opportunities to see interesting plants, like jack-in-the-pulpit and native orchids, and there are a Native American shell ring and an old rice field to explore as you enjoy birding. It’s usually not very crowded, and if you do run into people, they may well be friendly fellow birders who can tell you’re using Merlin Bird ID (happened to me).

Sea Pines Forest Preserve
Admission to Sea Pines is $9, but it’s going up. Cash only.
The easiest way to get there is take S Forest Beach drive until you come to a gate where you have to pay. You must arrive by car. I tried walking. Nope.
Restrooms are at the Fish Island picnic area.

3. Fish Haul Beach

This is also Mitchellville Beach, or they’re right next to each other. We got here by searching for Mitchellville. Here’s what the website says about it:

Nestled in Bay Gall, one of Hilton Head Island’s historic Gullah neighborhoods, Fish Haul Beach is perhaps one of the hidden gems on the Island. This beach overlooks Port Royal Sound and is perfect for those seeking a quiet get-a-way for walking, bird watching and resting.

The only negative thing I can say about this place is that it is VERY close to the airport, so expect airplane noise. What not to expect will be crowds. This area is absolutely gorgeous, and since the beach has live oyster beds, snails, fiddler crabs, and other delicacies shore birds enjoy, you are likely to see many more shore birds than at Coligny.

Conveniently, there are walking trails in the adjacent wooded area and a boardwalk across a beautiful marsh where you’ll find all kinds of songbirds. Depending on the time of year, you’ll run into many sparrows or warblers. In May I encoungered Painted and Indigo Buntings.

The sandbars and sea life make this a place you could explore for hours, though it’s not all that big. It may not be easy to find, but it’s worth it to see this calmer, more residential part of the island. Be sure to visit some of the Gullah sites while you’re there.

Fish Haul Beach Park
124 Mitchelville Road
Hilton Head Island 29926
Paid parking is $3 an hour. Restrooms available.

4. Audubon Newhall Preserve

This 50-acre spot is easy to find, since there are signs on Pope Avenue directing you to it. At times the preserve can be pretty popular, but try visiting in mid-winter and you’ll have the place and its residents all to yourself. There’s no bad time to visit, though, as all my photos of the pond in different seasons will demonstrate.

The Audubon Society on the island has done a great job with this place. There are labels on many of the plants, and they’ve done some planting of interesting species as well.

Birds just love the area, and you can see anything you want, even owls at the right time of day. Bluebird houses, an owl house, and a bird feeding station are part of the avian attraction, for sure. Listen for the many woodpeckers and watch for overly friendly Black Vultures.

Visitors can wander around the pond or be more adventurous and head through the trails that meander through the pine woods. There’s also a boggy boardwalk over a “pocosin,” where you can sometimes see deer.

Check the website for information on guided walks and other events. The website also has a checklist on eBird.

Audubon Newhall Preserve
55 Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head Island, SC
Admission is free, but it’s kind to give a donation

5. Jarvis Creek Park and Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn

These two are next to each other and easy to cover in one visit, so I lumped them together. Both places are just great for birding and beauty.

Jarvis Creek Park contains a nice stretch of the creek where you can find many birds in a natural setting along pretty paths with bridges across wet areas. That is my favorite part of the park, even though there was a very large tree across the path one time I visited.

For the less adventurous, there’s a very well maintained trail around the central lake, which is stocked with large fish. This is a very popular city park, with lots of walkers, dogs on leashes, and cyclists. It’s also right off the main highway on the island, so you’ll experience traffic noise. Nonetheless, birds are everywhere and the area is beautifully maintained.

You can take a trail to the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn from Jarvis Creek Park. The museum (a Smithsonian offshoot) goes over the history and biodiversity of the area, so be sure to go inside and learn about local birds there (and if you’re lucky see live horseshoe crabs or turtles). There are a butterfly garden, a carniverous plant garden, and a firefly pond to explore on the path that encircles the property, a former hunting lodge.

We were impressed by how many birds we saw on the property. Barn Swallows swooped around the observation deck that extends out into the marsh, and songbirds could be counted just sitting in your car in the shady parking lot, which my husband did.

The many piers and boardwalks allow you to get intimate with the surrounding area. An unforgettable highlight are ancient oaks that you can admire (or hug) while watching herons picking off little crabs.

Note that, as with most of the area, if there’s fresh water there will be alligators. I got too excited by a water lily and almost missed one!

When I was there, the place was not too crowded, so you could get good birding in, including Merlin Bird ID.

Jarvis Creek Park
50 Jarvis Creek Road
Hilton Head Island SC 29926
Free admission, good restrooms, and other amenities

Coastal Discovery Museum
70 Honey Horn Drive
Hilton Head Island SC 29926
Free admission

6. Prayer Trail at Providence Presbyterian Church

Here’s a birding hotspot you won’t see in the usual sources. It doesn’t have its own website and that’s probably for the good. That makes it less likely to draw crowds, an advantage in a contemplative space. The Prayer Trail winds through an amazing area of untouched coastal woodland next to Forest Beach Drive. I found it on my daily birding walks while staying in the area a few years ago, and I’ve visited often ever since.

Among the towering oaks, pines, hickories, palms, and magnolia trees you will find a huge assortment of woodland birds. In the winter, I spotted the same owl three different days. And in April there were so many Great Crested Flycatchers and warblers (especially Pine Warblers) that it was almost deafening!

Just sit on one of the benches at each stop on the trail, contemplate the lesson, and listen to birds. You’ll find peace. Just be sure to wear bug spray or cover your limbs. It’s a forest, after all.

One thing you will not find on these paths are people. I have only encountered a handful of fellow walkers here, and everyone is quiet (not shouting at friends or blasting music like you find on most trails on the island). I’m so grateful that this beautiful land is being preserved and that the church is maintaining the trail, which opened in 2021. It is absolutely my happy place and favorite place to go on Hilton Head.

When you’re finished on the prayer trails, walk to Cordillo through the church parking lot (chock full of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers much of the year), turn right, then take the next path right that goes along a ditch or lagoon or other body of water, where there are Bald Cypress trees, pretty water plants, and plenty of vireos to listen to. It’s a hidden oasis!

Prayer Trail (video on Facebook)
Church address: 171 Cordillo Pkwy, Hilton Head Island, SC
Prayer Trail is off South Forest Beach Drive
Free admission, no facilities

7. Lagoon Road

Lagoon Road is a road, not a park or destination. To find the birding there, park in the Coligny/Piggly Wiggly parking lot near the beginning of Lagoon Road and walk away from the crowds. Soon you will be in a quiet residential area, bordered by protected woods adjacent to a long lagoon. This is the perfect place to go if (like me) crowds make you jittery and you’ve been shopping or eating in a crowded restaurant at Coligny.

I’m always surprised at what kind of birds I encounter here. There are often Great Egrets or Great Blue Herons on the ground, and there will be all kinds of birds in the air, from Fish Crows to Red-shouldered Hawks to Ospreys and even to owls. I was standing quietly listening to some nuthatches one day when not one, but two Barred Owls flew right in front of me, disappearing into the patch of ancient oaks nearby. As I turned to leave in a few minutes, I realized one of the owls was just sitting nearby, watching me.

You can return by walking the residential streets, where there are always many birds, and mostly avoid North Forest Beach Road and its noise. The whole walk is about a mile, entirely doable for fairly healthy folks.

Others

Other places for birding abound on the island. Any park or historical site will have birds. I enjoy walking through even the business areas, on roads around apartments and condos, and any back road you can find.

There are many cruises you can take from the island. If you take a dolphin cruise, you can usually convince the captain to also show you birds. You’ll always see cormorants and such.

Cordillo Parkway and Pope Avenue trails also have many birds, along with alligators and the occasional stingray in a pond, but you have to wait for breaks in the traffic to hear them. A better road for birding is Dellyon Drive, which connects Cordillo and South Forest Beach. Obviously I am a walker and based near that area. I’m sure there are more fun areas near resorts I can’t get to.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the grounds of restaurants can provide great birding, especially at the waterfront restaurants where there will be gulls, sandpipers, and pelicans to watch. Some restaurants have piers you can head out on, too.

Heck, I found my first Baltimore Oriole a couple of years ago at the outlet mall, so just keep your eyes and ears open. Bluffton and Daufuske Island provide even more opportunities!

Resources

• Birdability: Accessible birding locations on Hilton Head Island
• Birding Hotspots in the area
• Search for Hilton Head on the Hermits’ Rest blog for more in-depth posts and lots of bird photos (most not all that great). Examples:
• A Visit to Audubon Newhall Preserve (2018)
  • I CAN Relax, So There! (2019)
  • Ahoy! We Set Sail! (2019)
  • Another Post about Birds, Beaches, and Beauty (2021)
  • Drinking and Dolphins, Not at the Same Time (2023)
  • Now I’m Happy, Thanks to Pinkney Island (2023)
  • Gaining Ground through Grounding (2024)
  • Deep into Lagoons (2024)
  • I Left the Vicinity (2025)
  • Now, THAT’s a Beach (2025)