Remember: It is Memorial Day today - sing the National Anthem, salute the flag, or better yet, thank a soldier!

PBS is hosting a National Memorial Day concert live from the lawn at the U.S. Capitol this evening at 8:00 p.m.  Click here for more information.

Weather: It is 75 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  We have a lovely Memorial Day in store for us!  Highs near eighty, lows in the upper sixties.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: one Black Racer snake,three American alligators, a pair of bluebirds, a pair of blue jays, six anoles, one raccoon, eighteen brown pelicans, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  several chuck wills widows.

May 23, 2008 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is mostly sunny this morning, with a few clouds sprinkled across the horizon.  The island is hopping now, with loads of folks out and about on the bicycle paths, the beach, and at Night Heron Park.  Here's hoping the rain holds off for the long week-end!  

Turtle News: A rare leatherback sea turtle< nested on Kiawah Thursday, May 22nd.  This is the first leatherback nest for both Kiawah and in the state of South Carolina!  Leatherback sea turtles are the largest living reptiles on earth, and are on the Endangered Species List.      

KICA News: Earlier this week it was announced that the Bass Pond crab dock was closed for repairs. But that is no longer true. It turns out that there are barn swallows nesting under the dock! Construction has been put on hold until the birds fledge, which should be in approximately two weeks. KICA will inspect the site prior to resuming construction.  

Week-end Weather: It is 76 degrees at 9:05 Friday morning.  There is a slight chance of thunderstorms as we head into the long week-end.  Highs Friday in the low eighties, lows in the mid-sixties, both with a 20% chance of showers.  Low eighties should also be the high for Saturday, with lows in the upper fifties.  There is a 30% chance of rain.  Last but not least, Sunday is supposed to bring highs in the upper seventies, and a low near sixty.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One Black Racer snake, one bluebird, two anoles, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  at least two chuck wills widows.

May 22, 2008

It is beautiful and sunny on Kiawah this morning.  It is difficult to believe that we are headed into the Memorial Day week-end already.  What happened to May?  Here and gone in a flash... 

KICA News: Earlier this week it was announced that the Bass Pond crab dock was closed for repairs. But that is no longer true. It turns out that there are barn swallows nesting under the dock! Construction has been put on hold until the birds fledge, which should be in approximately two weeks. KICA will inspect the site prior to resuming construction.  

Weather: It is 69 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  Could you call this weather perfect?  Perhaps... Highs today in the low eighties, lows in the mid-sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One American alligator, two anoles, one raccoon, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  at least two chuck wills widows.

May 21, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and a bit cooler this morning.  The birds are making quite a racket - no doubt happy to be back in the lovely sunshine! 

Last night's storms wreaked a bit of havoc, with branches and leaves littering the ground.  There were high winds and lightning along with the ferocious rain, but no power outages thank goodness! 

My!  What big teeth you have... This gator was hanging out in The Preserve,  You can usually spot it in the pond as you first turn into The Preserve.

Weather: It is 68 degrees at 8:30 this morning.  The storms have passed, and the next few days should be marvelous!  Highs today in the low eighties, lows in the low sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two American alligators, two blue jays, one anole, one raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  one chuck wills widow. 

May 20, 2008

It is a gorgeous sunny morning on Kiawah this morning.  Everyone seems to be gearing up for the long holiday week-end, and visitors are beginning to arrive.  It looks like the weather will be cooperative, so we should all be able to spend some serious quality time OUTSIDE!  Do you have special plans for the week-end? 

KICA News: The Bass Pond crab dock is closed for repairs. The dock is expected to be closed for approximately two weeks. Please do not enter the construction area during that time.  If you have any questions, please contact Director of Major Repair Connie Samford at 843-768-2315 or at connie.samford@kica.us.

Weather: It is 76 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  It is a beach-going kind of day... Highs in the low eighties with a 20% chance of showers. Tonight's low should be in the upper sixties with a 50% chance of rain.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two American alligators, two blue jays, one anole, one raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  one chuck wills widow.

May 19, 2008

Kiawah is warm and sunny this morning. Today looks to be a repeat of yesterday, with balmy temperatures during the day and night. The weather is just perfect for walking, biking, riding, rollerblading... what will you do outside today?

The beach was crowded this week-end, with lots of families soaking up the sun. The waves were gentle and the surf was cool. It was a fabulous time to go to the beach.

KICA News: Beginning Monday, May 19, the Bass Pond crab dock will be closed for much needed repairs. The dock is expected to be closed for approximately two weeks. Please do not enter the construction area during that time.  If you have any questions, please contact Director of Major Repair Connie Samford at 843-768-2315 or at connie.samford@kica.us.

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 9:00 this morning.  We have a glorious day on the way! Highs today in the low eighties, lows tonight in the upper sixties.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: five American alligators, two blue jays, two anoles, one five-lined skink, one raccoon, dozens of brown pelicans, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  at least two chuck wills widows. 

May 16, 2008

Sunshine and soft breezes begin our week-end on Kiawah this week-end. The sunshine is bathing everything with a golden glow. The Spanish moss is swaying slowly in the breeze, and the birds are all a-twitter. It is another fabulous day on the island!

Week-end Weather: It is 74 degrees at 9:05 Friday morning.  After Friday the weather service predicts no chance of rain!  Highs Friday in the low eighties, lows in the upper fifties, both with a 50% chance of showers.  Saturday brings highs in the upper seventies and lows in the low sixties.  Low eighties will once again be the order of the day for Sunday, with a low Sunday night in the low sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  at least two chuck wills widows.

May 15, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and gorgeous this morning. It seems that we have another lovely spring day to get outside and play

If you haven't already made plans for this evening, don't forget that the Charleston Symphony Orchestra will be performing at Freshfields from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.  Why not head on over and listen to some terrific music with your neighbors?

KICA News:  Happy Birthday to Joe Bunting!

Weather: It is 73 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  It may be a little cloudy from time to time, but overall it is supposed to be a terrific day!  Today's high should be near eighty. Lows tonight in the upper sixties with a 20% chance of showers.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One anole, one raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  one chuck wills widow.

May 14, 2008

It is another fabulous morning on Kiawah! Though we are quickly approaching the heat of summer, today is one of those incredible spring days that makes you happy to be alive.  Signs of a Lowcountry spring:

• falling asleep to the call of a chuck wills widow

• smelling a puff of jasmine through an open window

• hearing the call of a screech owl in the distance

Have you noticed any signs of spring?

What should we do next? These two youngsters were captured on film by Mickey Ball as they checked out the Nature Center at Night Heron Park.

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  Given the ten degree increase since yesterday morning, be prepared for a MUCH warmer day today! Highs in the upper seventies, lows in the mid-sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One red-winged blackbird, two VERY friendly anoles, one broad-headed skink, one raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. Heard but not seen:  at least two chuck wills widows and one screech owl.

May 13, 2008

Kiawah is beautiful and sunny this morning.  It is nice and cool outside, a big surprise for this time of year. The folks at KICA have done their usual quick clean-up job around the island, making it nearly impossible to tell that there was such severe weather over the week-end.  Fortunately we have nothing like that in store for the next couple of days!  Are you going to be able to get outside and play today?   

Turtle News: Yes folks, it is that time again!  "Our" mama turtles are right on time this year, with the first two nests reported on Mother's Day!  They were nests 3 and 4 for South Carolina this year.  Go mama turtles! 

Weather: It is 62 degrees at 9:05 this morning. It is a lovely day - one worthy of May flowers. Today's high should be in the mid-seventies, the low tonight in the upper fifties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One yellow-bellied sapsucker, two red-winged blackbirds, one anole, two broad-headed skinks, one raccoon, two Carolina wrens, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 12, 2008

It is sunny again on Kiawah this morning - thank goodness!  Most of the winds seem to have died down, leaving palm fronds, branches, and leaves littered in their wake. The storm was pretty ferocious, but luckily Kiawah seems to have escaped any major damage.  Our inland neighbors were not quite so lucky however - Wadmalaw and parts of Johns Island had very high winds and far more rain than we received.  Damaged houses and downed trees have been reported. 

Turtle News: Yes folks, it is that time again!  "Our" mama turtles are right on time this year, with the first two nests reported yesterday on Mother's Day!  

Weather: It is 61 degrees at 8:30 this morning. After last night's high winds and pelting rain, today has dawned sunny and warm!  There is still a possibility of wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour though, so be careful out there!  Highs today near eighty, lows tonight in the mid-fifties.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: one marsh hawk, two yellow-bellied sapsuckers, five red-winged blackbirds, three anoles, two blue jays, two raccoons, four Carolina chickadees, two Carolina wrens, two male cardinals, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 9, 2008 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is overcast this morning, with brief sprinkles now and again. That isn't stopping our feathered friends from singing quite loudly though!  Chickadees and cardinals are both serenading just now, with a wren chiming in to provide harmony.  Do you hear birdsong where you are?

Rush Hour? Bob Struble shares this photo and says "Spring migration results in early morning traffic jam."

Happy Mother's Day to all you Moms out there!

Week-end Weather: It is 73 degrees at 9:10 Friday morning. A few showers arrived late last night, and it would seem that they could continue today. Highs Friday in the low eighties with a 40% chance of rain. Lows near seventy tonight. Saturday the chance of showers is a mere 20%, with highs in the mid-eighties. Evening brings a low in the mid-sixties with a 40% chance of rain. Highs Sunday should be in the low eighties with a 60% chance of showers. Lows Sunday night are supposed to be in the low sixties with a 50% chance of rain.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Three red-winged blackbirds, one corn snake, three anoles, one raccoon, four Carolina chickadees, two Carolina wrens, two cardinals, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 8, 2008

It is partly sunny on Kiawah this morning. The magnolia blossoms are ready to burst open to welcome the warmth of the May sunshine. There are even a few oleander blooms valiantly trying to open. What May flowers do you have where you live?  

KICA Pet Expo Photos: are available for review by clicking here...

Weather: It is 74 degrees at 9:05 this morning. There is a slight chance that showers are headed towards Kiawah later this afternoon.  Highs today near eighty with a 20% chance of rain. Tonight's low should be in the upper sixties with a 30% chance of showers.  

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two bottle-nosed dolphins, one corn snake, two anoles, ten brown pelicans, one raccoon, one cardinal, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 7, 2008

Kiawah is back to its normal sunshiny self this morning.  It may be a bit warmer than normal, but May has certainly begun with wonderful weather, hasn't it?  

KICA Pet Expo Photos: are available for review by clicking here...

Don't Forget: The Blues by the Sea event sponsored by the Town of Kiawah Island Arts Council will be this Saturday at Mingo Point.  There are still free tickets available at Town Hall, so head over & grab some before they are gone!

Weather: It is 70 degrees at 9:05 this morning. It looks like we have a perfect spring day in store!  Today's high should be near eighty, lows tonight in the upper sixties.  

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One ladderbacked woodpecker, one anole, one broad-headed skink, seven brown pelicans, one raccoon, one five-lined skink, one cardinal, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 6, 2008

It is cloudy on Kiawah this morning, a little gray as contrast against the sunshine we have had recently.  It is still wonderfully warm though, and the humidity is not bad either.  Springtime in the Lowcountry...

Don't Forget: The Blues by the Sea event sponsored by the Town of Kiawah Island Arts Council will be this Saturday at Mingo Point.  There are still free tickets available at Town Hall, so head over & grab some before they are gone!

Astronomy: The planet Mercury is emerging from the glare of the sun and putting on its best show of the year. Look up tonight just after sunset when the crescent Moon glides by Mercury in the darkening western sky. A map and photos are available at http://spaceweather.com.

An unwanted visitor... Dennis Battles of Airy Hall says "Imagine my surprise when I looked down on the pool just before dusk … He/she is about 3 ft. long." 

Weather: It is 65 degrees at 9:05 this morning. Despite the clouds, the weather service does not list any chance of rain today.  Highs in the mid-seventies, lows in the low sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Two anoles one osprey, one raccoon, one cardinal, two Carolina chickadees, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 5, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and quite warm this morning.  It is a perfect day to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco de Mayo commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.  A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16th.

Astronomy: Tonight is the last chance to see the Eta Aquarids meteor shower.  They are a relatively small shower - 20 to 40 meteors per hour - with very swift, long paths.  Optimum viewing will be towards the Southeast between 2 and 4 a.m. So find a place with a clear view of the sky and grab a chair or blanket and watch the show!

Weather: It is 73 degrees at 9:05 this morning. There is a slight chance of thundershowers today, but most likely it will be a fabulous day!  Today's high is supposed to be in the upper seventies with a 30% chance of rain. Lows tonight in the low sixties with a 20% chance of showers.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: one black-crowned night heron, two five-lined skinks, eleven brown pelicans, two blue jays, four anoles six black vultures, one osprey,one raccoon, two male cardinals, two Carolina chickadees, five white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

May 2, 2008   Week-end Edition

It is partly cloudy on Kiawah this morning, but nice and warm.  The birds are singing their wee hearts out, celebrating the lovely weather.  Will you be able to get outside and play to celebrate too?

KICA News: The deadline to make reservations for the first Sunset Cruise of the year has been extended through today (Friday).  Contact Jessica Richardson at the Sandcastle to reserve your spot.  Click here for information.

Astronomy: The Eta Aquarids meteor shower comes to town Sunday and Monday.  They are a relatively small shower - 20 to 40 meteors per hour - with very swift, long paths.  Optimum viewing will be towards the Southeast between 2 and 4 a.m. So find a place with a clear view of the sky and grab a chair or blanket and watch the show!

Week-end Weather: It is 70 degrees at 9:15 this morning. We seem to have a fabulous day in store for us! Highs Friday should be in the mid-seventies, lows in the low sixties.  The high Saturday is supposed to be near eighty!  Lows in the mid-sixties with a 40% chance of showers.  The 40% chance continues through Sunday, with highs in the upper seventies and lows in the upper fifties.  

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One blue jay, two anoles one raccoon, one bluebird, one male cardinal, two Carolina chickadees, six white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

May 1, 2008 

Kiawah is sunny and warm this morning, with a HUGE temperature swing since yesterday. What a terrific beginning for the month of May! 

KICA News #1: The resort has been kind enough to loan KICA the use of the heated Night Heron pool for water aerobics during May.  So rather than waiting until after Memorial Day when the Sandcastle pool warms up, aerobics enthusiasts can get their fix starting today!  Learn more about water aerobics by clicking here...

KICA News #2: The deadline to make reservations for the first Sunset Cruise of the year has been extended until tomorrow.  Contact Jessica Richardson at the Sandcastle to reserve your spot.  Click here for information.

Weather: It is 70 degrees at 9:05 this morning. That's quite a change from yesterday's 54 degrees!  Today's high should be in the mid-seventies, lows tonight in the low sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One anole one raccoon, one bluebird, one male cardinal, two Carolina chickadees, three white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.