NATURALLY KIAWAH PATHWAYS
Journey into Kiawah’s Wild Places
Do you want to see parts of the island you don’t generally get to see? The Kiawah Conservancy has
put together some great Kiawah tours, available at your fingertips. There are a eight different tours,
including a kayak tour of waterways, a look at Kiawah’s lovely ponds and wildlife, a scavenger hunt and
more. There are two ways to participate: download the TravelStorys app from the AppStore or Google
Play, or pick up one of the Naturally Kiawah Pathways self-guided tours brochures from The Sandcastle.
Below, I highlight a few spots on the tour for photographers. If you download the app, it even includes
helpful photo tips!
My first stop is Cinder
Creek on Blue Heron
Pond Road. This KICA
facility has a kayak launch
and a pavilion for private
events but I’m there for
the natural setting. The
water here is calm and
everything seems relaxed.
A large bird makes a wide,
swooping turn as it surveys
the marsh. Under the
shaded platform, a man
casts his fishing rod and the marsh spreads out in front
of me, golden in the summer sun.
Bass Pond itself is a sight
to see: a wide expanse of
reflective blue, surrounded
by the rolling greens of
the River Course. A trio
of anglers were casting out
from the dock. ‘Little guys,’
one says when I asked them
if anything is biting. Sure
enough a moment later, he
brought up (and cast back)
a wriggling fish about 3
inches long. Turning around, I got a special surprise:
two roseate spoonbills feeding in the marsh across from
Bass Pond. The most recent issue of Naturally Kiawah,
the Conservancy’s magazine, included an article on
them and I am captivated by their incredible pink color.
The Marsh Island Park Tower is easily the most
mysterious place I visit on this trip. Tucked off Governors
Drive, a little walk takes you into another world.
The marsh is popping
and there are even cacti
growing there, right near
the marsh. The tower is,
of course, the centerpiece.
As I climb, the world
opens up a bit more. Cut
into the field of green
are little pathways where
creeks make their way to
the Kiawah River in the
distance.
Mingo Point is famous for the oyster roasts the resort
holds there but the first thing I notice is the birds. There
are so many birds fluttering around the numerous
bird feeders, swooping in, chasing each other off, and
twittering all the time.
The birds fly into the
shelter of the trees when
they see me approaching.
After I’ve stood there a
minute, they get used
to me and head back to
the feeder. It only takes a
minute for me to capture
a blue jay looking right
back at me, as if it’s posing
for the camera.
Beyond some good images, I also come away with
a better understanding of the reasons behind the
Conservancy’s mission. The tour is a great way to see
the island in a new light and get a sense of why the
organization is so passionate about conserving it. Get
out there – it’s beautiful!
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