Dead Dolphin on the North Beach

A dead dolphin washed up on the North Beach of Dewees on Wednesday morning sometime. Alert beachwalkers notified Lori, and she called it in to the marine mammal stranding network, which falls under the NOAA fisheries division. Since it was late in the day on Wednesday, and a necropsy takes a few hours [...]

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New Green Energy Technology coming to N. Charleston

Here’s some exciting energy news, happening right in our own “backyard”.  I wonder if it is possible for us to harness some of our own wind energy for power:
http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/nov/24/n-charleston-gets-turbine-facility/

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Golf Carts at a Premium over Thanksgiving

So many people visited Dewees over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend that the POA rented ALL of its golf carts, including the carts normally used by the island manager and assistant manager.  One cart was held in reserve for emergencies.
A number of people were seen walking from place to place or riding bikes because there were [...]

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Mixed flocks of Shorebirds on the South Beach

In the winter, large flocks of shorebirds use our beaches for resting and feeding.  Many of them are returning from the arctic, where they nest in the summer.  This flock was on the beach, and at first glance, they all appear to be nondescript members of a single species.  Thanks to the miracles of digital [...]

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Nature Programs for Thanksgiving Weekend

Friday, November 27th

Self guided history tour and activities posted in the Nature Center

Saturday, November 28th

Fall Exploration 10:30-12:30 at Landings Building
Nature Craft 2:30 at Huyler House picnic tables

Sunday, November 29th

Nature Mobile 10:30-11:30 at Ancient Dunes

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Alligators gearing up for winter

As the days get shorter and the water and air temperatures cool, alligators enter a period of lethargy.    When the air temperature stays in the 60’s, and the water temperature drops below 68 degrees, their metabolism slows and they actually stop eating until spring.  This fine specimen, who is clearly not underfed, had been hanging [...]

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A great time of year to see American Oystercatchers

The shell middens along the intercoastal waterway are host to one of the greatest wintering concentrations of American Oystercatchers on the east coast.  In the winter, the birds congregate along the shell banks and are conveniently viewed from the ferry.  During a rather high tide the other day, there was a large group of them [...]

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Golf Cart Tips

Property owners on Dewees can only use electric vehicles. Most people have golf carts, a few have GEM cars. The golf carts are great for the environment; they’re fun to drive; they bring you closer to nature and neighbors.
The sandy roads on the island and the salt water in the air can be [...]

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Sea Level Rise?

For Ted’s birthday party yesterday, we tried to take a bunch of 2nd graders to the North Beach — out past six pipes. We never made it.  At 2 p.m., a couple hours after low tide, the road north was covered with 6 to 8 inches of water just before the submarine tower. [...]

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Erosion continues in the Middle of the Island

The area south of Osprey Walk down to Needle Rush Walk eroded some more this week. Since 2007 Gary McGraw’s beach walkway has been a good barometer of how things are going. The situation is surprisingly dynamic. One day the beach grows, the next it erodes — sometimes in dramatic leaps. [...]

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