Weather: It is 78 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  The weather is supposed to be a tad warmer than yesterday, with no rain on the horizon. Highs today near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two red-winged blackbirds, seven brown pelicans, one five-lined skink, several golden silk spiders, one white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.  Heard but not seen: two chuck wills widows.

June 18, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and gorgeous this morning.  There was  quite a bit of thunder and some lightning on Kiawah last night, but only a very few parts of the island saw even a little rain.  But apparently the "storm" did bring us slightly cooler weather.   

Turtle news: There are 87 nests on Kiawah's beach as of June 16th.  Our loggerheads have officially surpassed last year's total... and then some! 

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 8:40 this morning.  It should be a very pleasant day today - not too hot or humid. Today's high should be in the mid-eighties. Lows tonight near seventy.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two red-winged blackbirds, one anole, four brown pelicans, several golden silk spiders, three white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.  Heard but not seen: three (?) chuck wills widows.

June 17, 2008

It is sunny and humid on Kiawah this morning.  It is another lovely day in paradise! It will be quite warm, and the humidity is very high today. Still, not too bad for June in South Carolina...  

Turtle news: There are 87 nests on Kiawah's beach as of June 16th.  Our loggerheads have officially surpassed last year's total... and then some! 

Weather: It is 83 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  Be on the lookout for a heat advisory this afternoon! The heat index is supposed to reach 102.  Highs near ninety with a 30% chance of showers.  Lows near seventy with a 40% chance of rain.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One male painted bunting, two red-winged blackbirds, one anole, eight brown pelicans, several golden silk spiders, one white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 16, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and just a bit cooler this morning.  We did finally receive a bit of rain, but not until late yesterday.  It arrived just before sunset, and provided some much needed rain, along with some much appreciated coolness. 

Turtle news: There are 87 nests on Kiawah's beach as of June 16th.  Our loggerheads have officially surpassed last year's total... and then some!

Weather: It is 76 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  There is a chance of showers today, mostly during the afternoon. Highs today near ninety with a 30% chance of rain.  Lows in the low seventies with a 20% chance of showers.  

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: one tri-colored heron, five red-winged blackbirds, three anoles, about a dozen brown pelicans, one American alligator, two five-lined skinks, several golden silk spiders, six white-tailed deer, one adult and three baby Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 13, 2008 Week-end Edition

It is mostly sunny on Kiawah this morning.  The sky has loads of clouds floating around, but there are no showers on the radar at the moment.  Here's hoping that the week-end stays sunny and dry!

There is superstition... No, not the Stevie Wonder song! Paraskavedekatriaphobia is "fear of the number 13" but is generally used to refer to the fear of the inauspicious date Friday the 13th. According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day. 

Turtle news: There are 72 nests on Kiawah's beach as of June 10th.  That is quite a jump on last year's dismal showing of only 80 nests for the entire season!  Guess the loggerhead mamas needed a beach vacation on Kiawah!

Week-end Weather: It is 81 degrees at 9:10 Friday morning.  We have a slight chance of showers for most of the week-end.  Friday's high should be in the mid-eighties with a 20% chance of rain.  Lows in the mid-seventies.  Saturday's high is supposed to be in the upper eighties, with a low in the low seventies.  There is a 20% chance of showers Saturday night.  Last but not least, Sunday's high should be in the upper eighties, the low in the low seventies.  There is a 50% chance of rain during the day and evening.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Three red-winged blackbirds, two American alligators, one five-lined skink, five golden silk spiders, two white-tailed deer, one Carolina wren, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 12, 2008

Kiawah is mostly sunny this morning, with fat, fluffy clouds floating through the brilliant blue sky.

For your viewing pleasure... Tonight at 10:00 p.m. PBS and ETV will broadcast "Bin Yah: There's No Place Like Home". It is a one hour documentary which explores the potential loss of important historic African American communities due to growth and development. The film explores the culture, the history, the importance of land and the concept of home, giving a voice to those who seldom have had a chance to be heard.  For more information, visit www.binyahfilm.org or contact Cara White, (843) 881-1480, carawhite@mac.com.  This is a perfect prelude to Gullah History event this week-end at the Sandcastle.

Weather: It is 83 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  No rain is forecast for today.  It should pretty much be a repeat of yesterday - highs near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies. 

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One red-winged blackbird, five golden silk spiders, one yellow-bellied sapsucker,two white-tailed deer, one Carolina wren, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

June 11, 2008

It is sunny on Kiawah this morning. It is a typical lovely South Carolina June day!

In June, as many as a dozen species may burst their buds on a single day. No man can heed all of these anniversaries; no man can ignore all of them.

- Aldo Leopold      

KICA News: Add your name to a petition in favor of a cross island parkway on Johns Island before June 19th, so we can contact Charleston County Council. Your KICA board of directors, the Town of Kiawah, the Town of Seabrook Island and the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association are in favor. Sign the petition here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/say-yes-to-cross-island-parkway.

Great Blue Heron Tina Schell "shot" this heron at Turtle Pond.

Weather: It is 81 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  It should be just a tad cooler today, with nary a heat advisory in sight.  Highs near ninety again today, lows tonight in the mid-seventies, both with a 20% chance of showers.    

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One American alligator, one red-winged blackbird, four white-tailed deer, one Carolina wren, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 10, 2008

Kiawah is once again sunny and beautiful this morning. The birds are singing, the breeze is blowing, and the waves are breaking gently on the beach. It's another fabulous day in paradise!     

Don't forget: to vote in the primary election today...

KICA News #1: Add your name to a petition in favor of a cross island parkway on Johns Island before June 11th, so we can contact Charleston County Council. Your KICA board of directors, the Town of Kiawah, the Town of Seabrook Island and the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association are in favor of the parkway. The petition is at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/say-yes-to-cross-island-parkway.

KICA News #2: The barn swallows have fledged from the Bass Pond crab dock, so the repairs are scheduled to resume today.  Every care will be taken not to disturb the existing nests since the barn swallows reuse them.  The nests are attached below the deck boards to the cross members underneath so crews will work around them. Please keep in mind that the crab dock will be closed to the public during construction which will take approximately two weeks to complete. 

Weather: It is 83 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  Once again we have a heat advisory - look for a heat index of 103.  Highs today near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies, both with a 20% chance of showers.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Three brown pelicans, one American alligator, two red-winged blackbirds, two white-tailed deer, one anole, one Carolina wren, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive

June 9, 2008

It is sunny and quite warm on Kiawah this morning. It seems we have a scorcher on the way, so try to stay cool out there!      

Turtle News: As of June 8th there are 60 nests on Kiawah's beach.  This is more than twice as many as this time last year.  GO MAMA TURTLES!

KICA News #1: Add your name to a petition in favor of a cross island parkway on Johns Island before June 11th, so we can contact Charleston County Council. Your KICA board of directors, the Town of Kiawah, the Town of Seabrook Island and the Seabrook Island Property Owners Association are in favor of the parkway. The petition is at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/say-yes-to-cross-island-parkway.

KICA News #2:The barn swallows have fledged from the Bass Pond crab dock, so the repairs are scheduled to resume today.  Every care will be taken not to disturb the existing nests since the barn swallows reuse them.  The nests are attached below the deck boards to the cross members underneath so crews will work around them. Please keep in mind that the crab dock will be closed to the public during construction which will take approximately two weeks to complete. 

Weather: It is 82 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  Look out for the heat index today! The heat index is supposed to be at 103.  Highs are supposed to be near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies. 

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: a couple dozen brown pelicans, three American alligators, five red-winged blackbirds, four white-tailed deer,\  three anoles, two five-lined skinks, a pair of Carolina wrens, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 6, 2008 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is kicking off the week-end with sunshine and warmth this morning. As we head into the week-end, be sure to start thinking about ways to "stay cool" as the mercury hits 90 and just keeps going!  If there was any doubt in your mind, though it is not June 21st, summer has arrived!

Sword Palm Jay Smith sends this photo of the seed pods on his sword palm at Salt Meadow Cove.

Week-end Weather: It is 82 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning.  We have a very warm week-end coming up! Friday's high should be near ninety, the low in the mid-seventies.  Saturday is supposed to be nearly a mirror image of today, with highs in the low nineties, and lows in the low seventies. Sunday should be even hotter, with a high in the low nineties, and a low in the mid-seventies There is supposed to be a heat advisory Sunday afternoon with a heat index of 101.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One American alligator, two black vultures, two red-winged blackbirds, three anoles, one Carolina wren, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 5, 2008

It is sunny and gorgeous on Kiawah this morning. This morning is a marvelous start for June. Hopefully this bodes well for the remainder of the month as well. What does June have in store for you?     

Turtle News: South Carolina  ETV will air a new documentary tonight at 9:00 p.m. called “Carolina Stories: The Turtle Ladies of Charleston County”.  The film highlights some of the sea turtle conservation work that is taking place in South Carolina. It tells the story of the dedicated team of women (and a few men) who are making a positive impact on the endangered sea turtle population along the SC coast.

Weather: It is 81 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  There is a heat advisory this afternoon from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m., with a heat index of 105.  Highs today near ninety, lows in the mid-seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two red-winged blackbirds, one five-lined skink, one Black-crowned night heron, one anole, one Carolina wren, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

June 3, 2008

It is mostly sunny on Kiawah this morning. We did receive some brief showers early yesterday evening, but they vanished during the night.  It looks like clear skies for the remainder of the week.   

Turtle News: Kiawah's beach has 39 nests as of June 2nd.  The mama loggerheads have been busy this year!  

I brought lunch! Jack Kotz shares this bluebird photo. He says the baby bluebirds just fledged last week.

Weather: It is 79 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  The rain has departed (thank goodness!) and left us with warm, fabulous weather. Highs in the mid-eighties, lows in the mid-seventies.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Seven brown pelicans, one yellow-bellied sapsucker, two red-winged blackbirds, one bluebird, one anole, one Carolina wren, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen: at least two chuck wills widows.

June 2, 2008

Kiawah is overcast this morning. The showers we had around sunrise seem to have disappeared, hopefully for the day.  That seems doubtful though, as there is a 50% chance of thundershowers today.  Perhaps this is a good day to find a spot and hunker down with your current book?   

Turtle News: Kiawah's beach has 39 nests as of this morning.  The mama loggerheads have been busy this year!  

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 9:15 this morning.  There is a chance of thunderstorms today, with the possibility of gusty winds and hail. Highs today should be in the mid-eighties with a 50% chance of rain.  Lows tonight are supposed to be in the upper sixties with a 20% chance of showers.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: three bottle-nosed dolphins, a couple of dozen brown pelicans, two yellow-bellied sapsuckers, five red-winged blackbirds, one pileated woodpecker, four American Oystercatchers, a pair of bluebirds, a pair of blue jays, five anoles, one Carolina wren, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen: at least two screech owls and two chuck wills widows.