It is sunny and cool on Kiawah this morning.  It would be terrific weather for trick-or-treating, if only we had goblins on the island.

Did you know? It's Halloween, the time for orange and black: orange-and-black costumes, orange-and-black decorations, even orange-and-black candies. People favor these colors because it's a tradition. But what prompts some animals to cloak themselves in orange and black?

Ladybugs, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds sport these colors. The bright orange-and-black coloration helps them stand out when they're in the open and want to be seen. Yet the coloration also helps the animals blend into their natural surroundings when they want to hide. That's because the orange-and-black pattern breaks up their outline in grasses and trees.  Meanwhile, for insects like milkweed bugs and Monarch butterflies, bold orange and black colors flash a warning to would-be predators: "Don't eat me! I'm poisonous!"  After Halloween, most orange-and-black animals disappear from the American scene for the winter.

Happy Halloween!  

Week-end Weather: It is 50 degrees at 9:10 Friday morning. More great weather is on the way for the week-end! Highs Friday in the upper sixties, lows in the upper forties. Saturday should bring us a high in the low seventies and lows in the mid-fifties.  Sunday is supposed to have a high in the low seventies with a 20% chance of showers.  Lows Sunday evening in the upper fifties with a 40% chance.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One bobcat, one belted kingfisher, one American alligator, one Zebra Longwing butterfly, one Monarch butterfly, four Gulf Fritillary butterflies, two great blue herons, four double-crested cormorants, two male and one female white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 30, 2008

Kiawah is sunny again this morning, and not quite as chilly as recent mornings. The next few days should be perfect fall weather, with highs in the upper sixties/low seventies, and cool at night.  Good sleeping weather!     

Island News: KICA sponsors a Flu Shot Clinic today at the Sandcastle from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The clinic is limited to the first 100 people, so please RSVP to Jessica at 768-3875 as soon as possible.

Weather: It is 43 degrees at 8:00 this morning. More sunshine is on the way today! Highs in the mid-sixties, lows tonight in the mid-forties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count  One great blue heron, three double-crested cormorants, two male and one female white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 29, 2008

It is sunny on Kiawah again this morning, and still quite cool.     

Island News: Thursday October 30th, KICA sponsors a Flu Shot Clinic at the Sandcastle from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The clinic is limited to the first 100 people, so please RSVP to Jessica at 768-3875 as soon as possible.

Weather: It is 37 degrees at 9:00 this morning. Yes, that is 3 7 degrees, ON Kiawah, IN October.  At least the high today should be in the low sixties!.  Lows tonight in the mid-forties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count  Two great blue herons, one yellow-bellied sapsucker, five double-crested cormorants, four white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 28, 2008

Kiawah is covered in sunshine this morning, but it is not exactly warm outside.  The blast of Northern air that came through last night seems to be sticking around.  We won't see much warmth in the next couple of days.  Brrrr....   

Island News: Here is an update on the flooding experienced on Kiawah this past Friday and Saturday. All roads are now dry. A vacuum truck is working on clogs Tuesday. A street sweeper is coming Tuesday evening to clean the Kiawah Island Parkway, Governor's Drive, Flyway and Surfsong, so soil does not get into drain lines. Two small sections of street will be patched: one on Bank Swallow and one on Glen Abbey.

Island News #2: Thursday October 30th, KICA sponsors a Flu Shot Clinic at the Sandcastle from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The clinic is limited to the first 100 people, so please RSVP to Jessica at 768-3875 as soon as possible.

Maggie relaxes on the beach Bill Johnson of Parkside tells us that "last weekend was Maggie's first trip to Kiawah. She loved the beach! She was just 9 weeks old. We don't think she will fit under the chair on our next visit though!"

Weather: It is 43 degrees at 9:05 this morning. YIKES!  Hope you didn't pack those sweaters away too far back in the attic.  Highs today near sixty, lows in the low forties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count   One belted kingfisher, one great blue heron, three double-crested cormorants, one male white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.  Heard but not seen: one screech owl.

October 27, 2008

It is sunny and cool on Kiawah this morning.   

Island News:  Norm Shea of KICA Land & Lakes says "the rain that occurred on October 24th dropped a total of 4.66 inches on the KICA Maintenance Facility on Kestrel Court. This was coupled with a tide that reached 7.95 feet, roughly 2 feet above normal."  There are still a couple of spots of shallow water on the roadways, but thankfully most of the standing water from Friday's rains has disappeared.

Weather: It is 53 degrees at 9:00 this morning. We should see lots of sunshine today, but much cooler temperatures this evening.  Highs in the upper sixties, lows in the low forties.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count  Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: one bobcat, one belted kingfisher, four great blue herons, eight double-crested cormorants, three male and two female white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 24, 2008 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is overcast this morning, with light showers coming down at present.  We should see clearing by tomorrow, so don't think you can hide away all week-end!  The weather is supposed to be lovely after the rain departs, so make your plans accordingly!

Basking Turtles These yellow-bellied sliders seem to be enjoying the sunshine. 

Week-end Weather: It is 60 degrees at 9:00 Friday morning. Expect showers today, though hopefully they will vanish by early Saturday morning. Highs Friday in the upper sixties, lows in the lower sixties, both with a near 100% chance of rain. Saturday's high should be in the upper seventies with a 40% chance of showers.  Lows Saturday night in the mid-fifties.  We should see highs in the mid-seventies Sunday, with a low in the low fifties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One belted kingfisher, one great blue heron, one double-crested cormorant, two male and one female white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 23, 2008

It is sunny on Kiawah this morning, and still quite cool. Today should be another fabulous day to get outside and play!

Did you know? The fall foliage showcase in South Carolina is best observed in the Upstate. The mountains become a magnet for thousands of onlookers each year as October rolls around.  Click here to view a webcam at Table Rock State Park where you can check out the color change. 

Weather: It is 53 degrees at 9:05 this morning. No rain is expected today, but be on the lookout for it tomorrow.  Highs today in the upper sixties. Lows tonight in the upper fifties with a 20% chance of rain.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One great blue heron, two double-crested cormorant, one male white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 22, 2008

Kiawah is sunny and cool this morning. It is not quite as cool this morning as it has been the past few days, but still a tad nippy.

Are you a butterfly fan? If so, now is a good time to make sure you have the best perennials ready to bloom this spring. If you want your butterfly garden to be alive with fluttering wings next year, dividing established perennials during autumn months is the easiest and quickest way to make them healthier. For more information on your butterfly garden, you can check the Butterfly Gardening Page.

Did you know? Butterflies taste with their feet!!! Via tiny receptors, a butterfly lands on a plant and tastes to see if it is the right kind of plant to lay its eggs on! What a relief that WE don't taste that way!

Weather: It is 53 degrees at 9:05 this morning. More sunshine is on the way, but don't look for the temperature to warm up too much.  Today's high should be in the upper sixties, tonight's low in the low fifties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Three great blue herons, three double-crested cormorants, one Black-crowned night heron, a half dozen dragonflies, three white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 21, 2008

It is sunny on Kiawah this morning, but it is quite chilly.  It is hard to believe that there are temperatures in the forties in October! Still, despite the cool temperatures, the island is beautiful.  There are not many visitors on the island right now, yet conditions are some of the best.  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!  Don't let the secret out!

Bald Eagle Folks have reported seeing bald eagles again - great news for wildlife aficionados. Let's hope that they will soon be watching over a chick or two. 

Weather: It is 45 degrees at 9:05 this morning. We have a cool day in store for us, but we should see loads of sunshine.  Highs today in the low seventies, lows tonight in the low fifties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count  

One double-crested cormorant, several dragonflies, three white-tailed deer, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 20, 2008

Kiawah is bathed in sunshine this morning. A cool breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and there is not a cloud in the sky.  Don't you think this is perfect weather? 

Weather: It is 50 degrees at 9:10 this morning. It's another beautiful day on Kiawah! Highs today in the upper sixties, lows tonight near fifty.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count   Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: five double-crested cormorants, one American alligator, roughly a dozen dragonflies, two male cardinals, nine white-tailed deer, two anoles, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 17, 2008  Week-end Edition

Once again Kiawah is sunny and cool, a harbinger of another lovely day in paradise! 

Island News #1: The Town of Kiawah Island sponsors a presentation about the current Gibbes Museum exhibit, GRASS ROOTS: AFRICAN ORIGINS OF AN AMERICAN ART. from 3 until 5 p.m. at the Sandcastle.  Learn why sweetgrass baskets are found here in the Lowcountry and hear of their origins hundreds of years ago in Africa. Dr. Dale Rosengarten of the College of Charleston and co-curator of this exhibit will be the presenter. She will be assisted by basket artist Ms. Annie Scott.  The presentation is free. Refreshments will be served. To insure adequate seating, please pick up your FREE ticket at the Town of Kiawah office on Beachwalker Drive.

Island News #2: Saturday, October 18, 2008, the KICA Lakes Department will be hosting its Second Annual Fishing Tournament. This complimentary "catch and release" event is open to all Members, any visitors staying on the Island, and Island employees. This will be a great opportunity to enjoy the Island's ponds and lakes, share time with neighbors and meet the members of the Lakes Department. For additional information regarding this year's tournament, including the registration form, data collection sheet and suggested fishing location maps, please click here.
Island News #3: The Town of Kiawah Island Arts Council presents the great Jazz vocals of Quiana Parler and Friends,  starting at 7:00 PM this Sunday, October 19, at Turtle Point Clubhouse.  Quiana Parler has traveled nationally & internationally entertaining & delighting jazz lovers with her great voice and captivating on stage personality. Quiana has performed on TV shows including: Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Good Morning America - Saturday Night Live - The View - NBC's Today Show - Tyra. This event is brought to you by The Town of Kiawah Island Arts Council.  Pick up your FREE tickets at Town Hall.

Week-end Weather: It is 66 degrees at 9:05 Friday morning. It's another beautiful day on Kiawah! Highs Friday in the mid-eighties, lows in the low sixties with a 60% chance of showers. It seems the showers may stick around on Saturday, with a 50% chance, and a high in the upper sixties.  Lows should be in the mid-fifties.  Highs Sunday are supposed to be near seventy, with lows in near sixty.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count  Two double-crested cormorants, one ruby-throated hummingbirds, one male cardinal, two female and one male white-tailed deer, two anoles, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 16, 2008

Kiawah is covered in sunshine this morning, with a cool breeze blowing gently in from the ocean.

Island News: KPOG sponsors a presentation by Billy McCord from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on hummock islands.  The presentation is at the Sandcastle at 1:30 PM. There will be a showing of marsh art sponsored by the Art Guild and Photography Club. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Weather: It is 66 degrees at 9:05 this morning. It is going to be another glorious day! Highs in the mid-eighties, lows in the mid-sixties.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count    Two double-crested cormorants, three ruby-throated hummingbirds, two male cardinals, three female white-tailed deer, one anole, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 15, 2008

It is sunny and cool on Kiawah this morning. It should be another terrific day to be out and about on the island.  Here's hoping that you get out to enjoy it!

Did you know? Now is the perfect time to add plants to your garden, because...

• The soil is nice and warm, allowing roots to grow faster than when planted in spring.

• It's easier on your wallet since nurseries usually have many plants on sale.

• You’ll save on water since cooler temperatures mean water doesn’t evaporate as quickly.

• The cooler temperatures also make gardening easier for you.

• You’ll attract beautiful birds and other small animals right away.   

Bobcat Here is one of Kiawah's favorite critters. Have you ever been lucky enough to spot a bobcat?

Weather: It is 63 degrees at 9:10 this morning. We have yet another fabulous day in store for us today! Highs in the low eighties, lows in the low sixties.  

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One double-crested cormorant, one ruby-throated hummingbird, one male cardinal, one female and one male white-tailed deer, one anole, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 14, 2008

Kiawah is back to its normal sunny self this morning. It is cool on the island, the birds are singing loudly, and a lovely breeze is gently blowing. To borrow from a commercial, does it get any better than this?      

Astronomy News: Tonight is the Full Hunter's Moon - It was so named by Native Americans because with the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it is time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can easily see fox and the animals which have come out to glean.

Weather: It is 66 degrees at 9:10 this morning. It looks like a perfect fall day is on the way! Today's high should be in the low eighties, the low near sixty.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count  One double-crested cormorant, three ruby-throated hummingbirds, two male cardinals, two female and one male white-tailed deer, one anole, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 13, 2008

It is cloudy on Kiawah this morning. It appears that Mother Nature is not quite ready to return us to sunshine just yet.  We will have nice warm weather today however, so there is no excuse not to get outside and play!     

Weather: It is 67 degrees at 9:05 this morning. Despite our overcast skies there is no rain in the forecast.  Highs today in the upper seventies, lows in the mid-sixties.

Week-end Kiawah Critter Count Spotted at various times & places around Kiawah during the week-end: three double-crested cormorants, nine white-tailed deer, one great blue heron, one anole, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 10, 2008 Week-end Edition

Kiawah is overcast and drizzly this morning. We received quite a bit more rain last night - no need to water the grass today! The island has certainly received a thorough soaking these past few days.  Kiawah's ducks should be ecstatic...    

Week-end Weather: It is 70 degrees at 9:10 Friday morning. It looks like Kiawah has roughly a 50-50 chance for showers during most of the week-end.  Hope you have a good book ready just in case!  Highs Friday in the upper seventies, lows in the upper sixties, both with a 70% chance of rain. Saturday should bring highs in the mid-seventies, lows in the mid-sixties, and a 50% chance of showers for both.  Highs Sunday are supposed to be in the mid-seventies, still with a 50% chance of rain. Lows Sunday night in the low sixties with a 20% chance of showers.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One double-crested cormorant, four female white-tailed deer, one tufted titmouse, two Clouded Sulphur butterflies, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.

October 9, 2008

It is mostly cloudy on Kiawah this morning, though we have seen the sun peer out occasionally.  It rained for most of the night last night, but fortunately not really any wind.  More looks to be on the way, so be prepared!   

Turtle News: Turtle season is officially over.  The final nest hatched and was evaluated last week. We had 232 nests on our beach, a terrific number!  Better still, the success rate of our nests was 86.7%.  Thousands of baby loggerheads got their start on Kiawah this summer.  Hopefully in 25 years they will return to Kiawah and begin another generation!

Fox This fox is one of three that live near The Preserve.  If you are quiet you can sometimes spot them playing tag through the marsh and around the oak trees. 

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 9:15 this morning. There is a fairly decent chance of more showers today, so don't put your umbrella away just yet.  Highs today in the upper seventies, lows tonight in the upper sixties. There is a 60% chance of rain during both.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count Three double-crested cormorants, two female and one male white-tailed deer, one five-lined skink, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive. 

October 8, 2008

Kiawah is partly cloudy this morning, and a bit warmer than recent mornings.   

Turtle News: Turtle season is officially over.  The final nest hatched and was evaluated last week. We had 232 nests on our beach, a terrific number!  Better still, the success rate of our nests was 86.7%.  Thousands of baby loggerheads got their start on Kiawah this summer.  Hopefully in 25 years they will return to Kiawah and begin another generation!   

Weather: It is 72 degrees at 9:05 this morning.  Looks like we have had our stretch of great weather, and now a bit of rain is on the way.  Highs in the upper seventies, with a 40% chance of showers.  Lows tonight in the upper sixties with a 90% chance of rain.

Today's Kiawah Critter Count One five-lined skink, one yellow-bellied sapsucker, one double-crested cormorant, three female and one male white-tailed deer, several Carolina chickadees, and dozens of snowy egrets on Sea Marsh Drive.