Today Lee, Anita and I jumped in the car (or entered normally) and drove the now-familiar route to Ruidoso, New Mexico. The plan is to join our friends Mike and Martha for a week away from the endless heat and crunchy drought of our part of Texas. Three of us will have to work, but it will at least be cooler.
It will also be wetter. It’s been raining a lot in this part of NM, which has tested the new drainage infrastructure Ruidoso has put in since its last flood. It’s helping! Unfortunately, Hondo, down the road, got hit hard yesterday and we passed some very sad scenes. I really feel for that town.
See, it’s rainyFlooded field, but not the bad stuff. Didn’t want to take pictures of that.
We didn’t hit as much rain as our friends who left earlier than we did. Mostly we enjoyed clouds and sunshine making patterns. Bonus: I saw the native North American antelope, the Pronghorn. I think that’s the last on my list here…oh wait, no bears here yet.
This cloud looked like a whaleWhale cloud
We are now in a nice and comfortable cabin/house with lots of outdoor spaces. We had to put on jackets while sitting outside enjoying the front deck. We hope it doesn’t rain too much so maybe some of us can work outside. I’d like to work and listen to birds at the same time!
View from front deck
The only negative thing is that I seem to have hurt my quad on my left leg, maybe getting out of the car? It hurts like heck. I can still walk, but climbing the stairs to our room got tedious.
Elk, not pronghornThings seen on a walk near the cabin
Oh! I have one funny trip story. We were driving in eastern NM, and got to the area where there are lots of bird nests on platforms attached to telephone poles. I remembered them from previous trips, and wondered if there could be any information on the platforms online.
Example
So I typed a question into Google. The answer came back fairly informative, but not much more than I already knew. I looked to see where the answer came from. Y’all, the answer came from me. The source was my blog the last time we came and stayed here. Now, that gave me quite a chuckle. AI seems to think I’m an expert on these nests. I’m not. I was guessing in that blog entry. I shake my head!
Time to recover from the trip and get ready for fun. Hope all the elk bugling doesn’t keep me awake. It’s a cool sound, but loud.
Hello. I can answer this question in two ways. The longest distance I ever traveled was to Switzerland, which I have done twice, one when my children were young, and then when Lee and I went on the Rhine River cruise. the first trip was pretty much a nightmare and the second was the best vacation I’ve ever been on. I wish I could go on another Viking Cruise. Just the right mix of relaxing and seeing new things.
Cruise highlights
The longest length of time I’ve ever traveled was when I went to Toronto for three weeks to work. I had a wonderful time. It was probably the highlight of my time at Planview. I felt respected and valued by the nice people at CIBC (a bank).
Eating poutineSecond or third trip there. Those were during polar vortexes
Still feeling down. My Mom’s birthday was today, 104 years ago, so unlike many of my friends, I’m not freshly grieving or treasuring a living parent. But mostly the remembrance of 9/11 and all those lives lost hurts so much. (I’ll not repeat my personal tale, preferring to stick to the big picture).
Today’s coloring. Not scanned so it doesn’t look great.
And it’s so hot. Etc. So I colored and tried to enjoy football. However political ads and the fixation on gambling tamps my enthusiasm down. Whine.
So annoyed at Paxton ads that I made a drab mandala.
Today’s question is hard for me because I don’t know whether to answer country (I think I’ve only been to around ten), state or region, city, or site. So I’m just going to name ten places I like a lot, not ranked.
Gainesville, across from my grandmother’s house
Gainesville, Florida. It’s my center.
Sedona, Arizona (and surroundings)
Ruidoso, New Mexico (and surroundings)
Hill Country, Texas
Chicago (favorite big city)
Western Ireland
Avebury, UK
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Coastal marshes of southeastern US
British Columbia, Canada, though I’ve never been there
Basically, I like places with interesting terrain and wildlife.
Antelope Canyon. My favorite place.
I’m glad for that prompt. A few things saddened me today, so I needed something cheerful.
Rio Ruidoso
My eccentric former boss at the software company where I met my kids’ dad lost his wife suddenly. I’m so happy he found the right partner to share his life with, but sad that she passed so young (around my age).
The person who murdered my friend Christi is finally going on trial nearly five years after her death. He was her son, whom she did her best for. But he was a mess. But not all bad. He found Fiona for me. All this and more has given me “the feels.”
Lee is a good guy under his grumpy facade. When he realized I was going to drive in early tomorrow morning for a root canal on my still-painful teeth, he volunteered to drive me to Cedar Park this evening and get a hotel room near my dentist so I can sleep a bit more, and I’ll have him to drive me home. I feel so pampered
Oh look, it’s 183 and 620. That intersection was a four-way stop in the 1990s.
And then he offered to take me out to eat something both good and soft. Conveniently, one of my favorite quiet sushi/Chinese restaurants is within walking distance of the hotel. We could walk there, even in 103° heat and not suffer!
View looking toward where friends live.
When I come to the old Lakeline Mall area, in the vortex where Austin, Cedar Park, and Round Rock meet, I am surprised at what nostalgia pops up. I am in a place I spent my child-rearing years, near many dear friends and places I once lived. I look out the window and know Catherine and Carolyn/Lyndy are not too far. Sniff. But I’m in no shape to visit!
The extent of the nostalgia I feel is limited to people, former homes, the interesting geological aspects of the limestone karst, and nice places to eat. I miss those. I don’t miss traffic and having so many people around. There are always trade offs!
My chirashi sushi dinner pampered me well, and a glass of plum wine drowns out the throbbing. I did make it through the day without painkillers, so maybe I won’t bruise up awfully tomorrow.
Blurry sunset over a movie theater.
I’ve never looked less forward to a dental appointment. Just gotta go inward and get through it. I’ll never make fun of people who get wound up before dental work again.
Anita and I survived a long day of travel today with our spirits intact. We gave ourselves enough time that delays getting out of the condos and plane delays didn’t bother us. As travel days go, it was just fine.
Myrtle Beach airport and odd seats
I first want to say how nice the Myrtle Beach airport is. It’s clean and shiny and not at all crowded. It even has pretty bathrooms with nice green tile and doors. And there are interesting couches and seats everywhere. None were being used. It’s probably busier in winter.
More seating
At the Nashville airport we had a nice lunch and listened to live music by a talented young woman. We were sitting facing the corridor, and above it was a sculpture kind of thing of big silver balls. I witnessed at least three small children who spotted them and were entranced. That was really sweet.
Silver spheres.
I slept all the way to Austin, though a hard landing woke me up well enough to make it home. More tomorrow.
My friend Pamela and I traveled to Corpus Christi today to go to a convention, because somehow we got elected delegates. It was such a pleasant drive! We went the back way, which was really pretty after all the recent rains. We stopped for lunch in LaGrange, where there was a new restaurant we happened upon.
Look at that spinach soufflé and squash! oh and some meat stuff.
The meal was delicious! I’m so glad I could find a local spot. We happened to meet some woman from there at the convention, and they said the place was brand new.
I was very happy to find our hotel, which is right on the beach but has a weird very steep driveway. Yet another construction site hotel. But where we are seems new and beautiful.
And you can see the Gulf of Mexico from our room, kind of.
We got a ride to the convention site, wandered around, and ended up meeting fascinating people who live part-time in our county! And they were with a musician I’d known from my past in the Austin area. We had a great conversation and ended up knowing many people in common. How random!
The new friends and an old one.
Next, a guy walked up to greet them. It was my former singing partner, Austin. Dang. He didn’t recognize me. I look different, especially with my crazy hair and weird glasses.
Trey Bone reunion. minus Bill.
It was great to see Austin and his wife Connie again after a good number of years. They were kind enough to give Pamela a ride to and from a “fun” event that ended up way too crowded for our taste.
It was at a place called Goldfish.
Pamela was pretty zonked after that excitement so we ordered Thai food delivered to our room. It was excellent! We were pleasantly surprised. Tomorrow’s an early day of caucuses and I don’t know what. I hope I have time to look at some birds and water.
Ooh. I almost forgot. We got new gutters today, in preparation for hooking up our rainwater collection system. The guys worked 14 hours! Lee was impressed.
Getting started. Last photo with nice red gutters. In progress extruding the gutter.
There are no finished photos because they finished after dark.
Today after the usual leisurely preparations, we drove down to the Rockport area to camp at Goode Island State Park. I now wish I’d booked it longer, since it will rain tomorrow and be pretty cold Sunday. Nonetheless, I bet we can find ways to see birds and use the cameras! Something other than sparrows! Yes!
Like blurry Pelicans! Only bird I saw before it got dark.
It’s a nice drive here, and I love all the small towns and large oak trees we see. There were birds. Here are “a few” vultures on a tower. The next tower over had zero vultures.
Entering Rockport
We are getting good at setting up the motorhome quickly, which is good, because we lost a half hour of light when the staff at the truck stop we visited to fuel up repeatedly got our ZIP Code wrong or programmed to pay for the wrong pump. I’d stayed inside and went to lie down on the bed and ended up having a nice nap.
But we made it.
The water and electricity are on the “wrong” side at this campsite, but we managed to pull the hose and power cord over with room to spare. And with no trees, Lee had no trouble hooking up the satellite receiver. I only had a few minutes to look around, but I’m pretty excited about all the water surrounding us. There’s a lot of wading and swimming bird habitat!
You can see we’re in the last site before the end of the island. The green light is, I think, a pier. I will know more tomorrow!View from the road. The habitat next to us. Eee, I’m excited.
Right now, though, the wind is so strong that it feels like we are in a boat. This is a heavy vehicle, but we are rocking. The waves are really attacking the bulkheads, too. By morning the tide will be lower and maybe it will be calmer. We will see!
There was a plan for today, but it didn’t work out very well. One part of the plan was to get more work done on the porch. That didn’t happen because the lead guy had a sick child to take care of. Family always has to come first! The wood isn’t going anywhere and will be here next week.
I did find a young garden spider. They look so different at this stage.
The other part of the plan was to go to Goliad State Park in the RV so we could both camp and attend a family wedding. We got ready in time but of course the Seneca decided it didn’t want to go. The rear slide wouldn’t go in. Again. These are finicky machines.
Penney tried to get us to stay home.
I was not thrilled since I’d run around all morning getting everything fed and watered, loaded things up…and boom. Not moving. Time to pivot.
I quickly canceled the camping reservation and at least got some money back, then booked hotel rooms in Victoria, much closer to the wedding venue anyway. This ends up costing less thanks to points. We loaded our bags in the car and headed out, down the familiar roads to southern Texas. Tempers did not flare and panic did not occur.
We passed mounds and mounds of McCartney roses on the sides of the highway.
Tonight was the rehearsal and we were kindly invited to it along with the wedding party and other family. I got to help a little bit with decorating while Lee went back to the car because he didn’t like the music. Oh, Lee. He pivoted in his own way.
Get me outa here.
We did have a nice time exploring Tin Spur Ranch, which is a tasteful and rustic place with ponds and a nice setting for an outdoor or indoor wedding. The bride made a good choice!
Wedding areaCoreopsis Contemplating Scenes from a pleasant late afternoon
In addition to attractiveness, the setting was perfect for many birds, including Bobwhite Quail and two kinds of whistling ducks (as if one kind isn’t plenty, but the Fulvous one has blue legs!). There were also many unusual flycatchers, including the Brown Crested, which is migrating still.
And there was a Coot.
There were 40 birds heard and seen in the late afternoon. I bet mornings there are spectacular!
Ducks in the air.
So everything turned out fine. Lee even ate dinner and talked to some of his family! (You didn’t think it was my relatives getting married, did you? The only relative whose wedding I was ever invited to was my dad and Flo. so any family weddings I attend have been on the spousal side. I digress, in a self-pitying manner.
Ignore me and enjoy the sunset.
We will probably see a sight before the actual wedding tomorrow and maybe see Goliad on Sunday. Yes. We know there will be Memorial Day traffic. We aren’t going down any interstates.
More Victoria County sunset.
No matter what, we’ll be flexible, because we’re learning to pivot without panic.
While I was wandering through ghost towns yesterday, things were hopping on the home front. My horse and I were the beneficiaries of it all.
First, Lee was kind enough to mow the area where our round pen got moved. I was a bit afraid of snakes in the long grass. He then mowed some nice paths through the field, even nicer than his last ones.
Path to round pen.
That’s not all! Work has begun on a new horse playground for me, Apache, and any other horse I can get practice on obstacles for shows, entertain ourselves, and have fun. The first item is a little hill, like the one at Tarrin’s. It’s more of a berm.
The first load of dirt
The darned backhoe decided it was time to have yet another new problem (hey, it’s older than my kids), so it didn’t get done. But Apache and I tried it out and loved it. We will get so much use out of this tool.
The backhoe has plenty of stinky dirt to move.
Apache and I also tried out a turn in a box and corridor obstacle. I’ve made copies of the obstacle instructions from the Working Horse Central book, so I may be getting more obstacles as well. Riding will be so much more fun.
One path we walked on, framed by flowers.
Later in the day Apache and I rode out to the paths and pen to test them out. We both liked the mowed round pen, and he did pretty well in there. We even walked along much of the paths.
We got way into the corner.
But, the end of the ride was not ideal. I guess Lee had run over some rodents while mowing that were starting to smell good. A Turkey Vulture decided to check it out, which was not at all fun for an already nervous horse.
Bonus: he didn’t flee into the poison ivy patch.
A great deal of crow-hopping and jumpiness ensued, but I didn’t panic. I did allow him to briskly head to more familiar ground, but I eventually helped him calm down enough to walk over some poles and pay attention to me. That was a win as far as I’m concerned. He even let me wash off all his nervous sweat.
He deserved a piece of weird ice cream cake. It’s made with ice cream and self rising flour. We humans ate it for him.
Poor Apache. That was a lot of new stuff for one day!
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.
Brown Pelican
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.
Great Egret near the condo I stay in.
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.
White Ibises
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).
Tricolored Heron
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!
Red-winged Blackbird
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.
A nice, healthy gator
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.
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.
Osprey next
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.
Yep, it was close.
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 actual snake
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).
Vanishing Swamp
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.
Wood Stork
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.
These were taken many years apart.
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.
Gray Catbird at feeder
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.
Little Blue Heron on the lake
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.
Eastern Bluebird, taken from the far
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!
It was hiding
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
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.
Trail map
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!
You can see many exciting Carolina Chickadees
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.
So many trees, all full of birds.
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!
The waterWater plants
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.
Start of the lagoon
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.
This is the closest I’ve ever been to an owl. The ones at home hide.
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.
One recommended path
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.
This hawk caught a mouse right in front of me on a major road.
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.
Cormorants and a gull seen on a dolphin cruise.
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.
Yes, there are birds at the beach!
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!
