Pitt Street Causeway
Robin Carter
Directions
From the southern terminus of I-26 in Charleston go north on US 17. Take the first exit after crossing the high bridge, which is West Coleman Boulevard. Follow West Coleman Boulevard southeast for about 1.6 miles. Shortly after crossing Shem Creek look for Whilden Street on the right. (Whilden Street goes straight ahead at a point where West Coleman Boulevard bears left.) Turn onto Whilden Street and go about 0.4 miles to Morrison Street. Turn right (southwest) onto Morrison Street. Go one block to Pitt Street, turn left (southeast) and follow Pitt Street for 1.5 miles to its end.
Birds to look for
Hooded Merganser (w), Common Loon (w), Horned Grebe (w), Red-necked Grebe (w), American White Pelican (w), Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Lest Bittern (s), Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Green Heron (s), Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (s), White Ibis, Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier (w), Sharp-shinned Hawk (fall), Cooper's Hawk (fall), Merlin (fall), Peregrine Falcon (fall), Clapper Rail, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, American Oystercatcher, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Whimbrel (spring, fall), Marbled Godwit (w), Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpiper (spring, fall), Western Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, Short-billed Dowitcher, Laughing Gull, Bonaparte's Gull (w), Ring-billed Gull (w), Herring Gull (w), Lesser Black-backed Gull (w), Great Black-backed Gull (w), Gull-billed Tern (s), Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern (s), Forster's Tern, Least Tern (s), Black Skimmer, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Belted Kingfisher (w), Palm Warbler (w), Savannah Sparrow (w), Nelson's Sparrow (w), Saltmarsh Sparrow (w), Seaside Sparrow, Painted Bunting (s)
Description
Pitt Street Causeway has a small park with limited parking and no facilities, but it is worth a visit at any season. Almost any species of shorebird occurring along the South Carolina coast might be present on the mud flats here (avoid high tide if you can). The marshes and salt creeks on the north side of the causeway are good for any salt marsh species, including all of the marsh-loving sparrows. You also have a good view of Charleston Harbor. There is a fairly good hawk migration here in the fall, especially for accipiters and falcons. Rarities seen here include Brant.