Folly Beach County Park
Robin Carter
Directions
From US 17 west of the Ashley River in Charleston, or from the junction of SC 30 and SC 171, Folly Road, on James Island, go south on SC 171, Folly Road, until you reach Folly Beach. Once in Folly Beach turn right (west) onto West Ashley Avenue and follow it to its end at the entrance to the county park.
Birds to look for
scaup (w), scoters (w), Hooded Merganser(w), Red-throated Loon (w), Common Loon (w), Red-necked Grebe (w), Northern Gannet (w), Brown Pelican, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon (w), Merlin (w), Clapper Rail, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, American Oystercatcher, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Dunlin, Gull-billed Tern (s), Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern (s), Least Tern (s), Eurasian Collared-Dove, Common Ground-Dove, Palm Warbler (w), Painted Bunting (s)
Description
This beach park might be crowded during summer, but very quiet from fall through spring. It provides access to Stono Inlet and Stono River as well as the open ocean. You might be able to spy something rare on low islands in the inlet with a telescope. Note that the park does not usually open until 9 AM or even 10 AM.