Feb 9 - Feb 14, 2025
Starting at
1,849
South Carolina
Birding the Lowcountry
Program No. 20959RJ
With its salt marshes, abundant forests, coastal estuaries and diverse wildlife refuges, South Carolina’s Lowcountry is a haven for both birds and birders alike.
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800-454-5768
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Feb 9 - Feb 14, 2025
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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 4L 5D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Ridgeland, SC
2
Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge Birding
Ridgeland, SC
3
Birding in the Ace Basin & More
Ridgeland, SC
4
Birding On & Around Hilton Head Island
Ridgeland, SC
5
Webb Wildlife Center & More
Ridgeland, SC
6
Program Concludes
Ridgeland, SC
At a Glance
Bring your binoculars for an adventure that’s perfect for novice birders. South Carolina’s Lowcountry, woven with salt marshes, blackwater swamps and hardwood forests, is a veritable haven for more than 250 bird species, including endangered species, threatened species and species of concern. Learn birding techniques, then hone them as you observe birds during migration along the Atlantic Flyway. Spot shorebirds, raptors, songbirds and other seasonal travelers on field trips to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Island and Pinckney Island. Possible species include White Pelicans, Prothonotary Warblers, Purple Gallinules, Wood Storks and others.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to 2-3 miles over uneven terrain; climbing in and out of a 15 passenger bus; standing for up to two hours at a time while viewing through spotting scopes and binoculars.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Search for the protected Red-cockaded Woodpecker during an excursion to the Webb Wildlife Center.
- Enjoy special field trips to sites in the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound.
- Savor the cuisine of the Lowcountry as you enjoy an oyster roast, Lowcountry boil, Hoppin’ John and more.
General Notes
The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 7:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Elizabeth Anderegg
A graduate of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth Anderegg is a lifelong canoeist who discovered kayaking when her two daughters grew older and preferred their boating independence. Since 2006, she has served as a kayak and birding expert for Nature Adventures Outfitters. Now an ACA Kayak Instructor and a South Carolina Coastal Master Naturalist, Elizabeth brings to Road Scholar her love of nature and the outdoors, and her love of sharing these with others.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Elizabeth Anderegg
View biography
A graduate of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth Anderegg is a lifelong canoeist who discovered kayaking when her two daughters grew older and preferred their boating independence. Since 2006, she has served as a kayak and birding expert for Nature Adventures Outfitters. Now an ACA Kayak Instructor and a South Carolina Coastal Master Naturalist, Elizabeth brings to Road Scholar her love of nature and the outdoors, and her love of sharing these with others.
Bob Speare
View biography
Bob Speare has been a professional naturalist for over 25 years. He enjoys teaching about all aspects of natural history and has conducted birding tours across the US and internationally. Bob moved from Massachusetts to the Lowcountry in 2015. He is certified as a Lowcountry Master Naturalist and a South Carolina Master Gardener, and regularly works with the Audubon Society. Bob has also conducted photography programs and trips for over 20 years and has experience in teaching adult, children and family programs.
Suggested Reading List
(9 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Birding the Lowcountry
Program Number: 20959
South Carolina Naturalists: An Anthology, 1700-1860
“This volume illuminates the wealth and significance of antebellum natural history studies in South Carolina and the state's natural diversity,” says the product description; our Bill Hamel notes that it’s “great all around for naturalists and history lovers.”
Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast: Common Birds, Crabs, Shells, Fish, and other Entities of the Coastal Environment (2nd edition)
Copied from Book Description: "Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast, second edition, is a completely updated, revised, and expanded version of the book originally published in 1991. It is a practical, entertaining, reader-friendly guide to the common animals, plants, and environment of the Carolina coast. Fully illustrated, with over 150 color photographs to aid with identification of over 120 subjects, plus additional drawings with in-depth information on each subject. Scientifically accurate, yet written in language the lay public can understand. It is a perfect resource for coastal residents and visitors along the North Carolina/South Carolina, and even the Georgia coast. A beachcomber's handbook; valuable to any seaside explorer."
The Water is Wide
Pat Conroy's memoir about teaching on Daufuskee Island in a one-room schoolhouse. The book was made into the movie Conrack, starring Jon Voight. Sense of place and people.
Product Description from publisher: The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw island, America is a world away. For years the people here lived proudly from the sea, but now its waters are not safe. Waste from industry threatens their very existence--unless, somehow, they can learn a new life. But they will learn nothing without someone to teach them, and their school has no teacher.
Here is PAT CONROY'S extraordinary drama based on his own experience: the true story of a man who gave a year of his life to an island and the new life its people gave him.
Looking for Longleaf: The Fall and Rise of an American Forest
Our dear, late Naturalist, Bill Hamel, once said: "this is the best all around for naturalists and history lovers.” Longleaf pine forests are a special ecosystem and home to the Red-Cockaded Woodpecker.
From Book Description: "Covering 92 million acres from Virginia to Texas, the longleaf pine ecosystem was, in its prime, one of the most extensive and biologically diverse ecosystems in North America. Today these magnificent forests have declined to a fraction of their original extent, threatening such species as the gopher tortoise, the red-cockaded woodpecker, and the Venus fly-trap. Conservationists have proclaimed longleaf restoration a major goal, but has it come too late?
In Looking for Longleaf, Lawrence S. Earley explores the history of these forests and the astonishing biodiversity of the longleaf ecosystem, drawing on extensive research and telling the story through first-person travel accounts and interviews with foresters, ecologists, biologists, botanists, and landowners. For centuries, these vast grass-covered forests provided pasture for large cattle herds, in addition to serving as the world's greatest source of naval stores. They sustained the exploitative turpentine and lumber industries until nearly all of the virgin longleaf had vanished.
Looking for Longleaf demonstrates how, in the twentieth century, forest managers and ecologists struggled to understand the special demands of longleaf and to halt its overall decline. The compelling story Earley tells here offers hope that with continued human commitment, the longleaf pine might not just survive, but once again thrive."
The Spirit of Sweetgrass
Seitz's main character is Essie Mae Laveau Jenkins, a Gullah sweetgrass basketmaker who weaves her magic on the roadside near Mt. Pleasant. With her special love baskets, she works to brings people together. Conflict ensues when her daughter wants her to go to a rest home, and the florist she's been trying to fix up turns out to be gay. Sweetgrass making, roadside basket sellers in the Charleston area, mystery, comedy, family relationships, friends.
The Prince of Tides
Pat Conroy's novel captures the beauty of the lowcountry as it moves from present to past and back again. Made into a movie by the same title starring Barbra Streisand and Nick Nolte. Narrated by Tom Wingo, the novel explores the relationships between members of a dysfunctional family as it moves between the lowcountry to Manhattan. Shrimping, good description of salt marshes.
A Coast for All Seasons: A Naturalist's Guide to the Coast of South Carolina
From Book Description:
"Explore the marvels of the South Carolina coast through the eyes of two gifted coastal geologists. Miles O. Hayes and Jacqueline Michel take their exceptional understanding of the Carolina coast with its barrier islands, estuaries and bays, and, offer rare insights into this beautiful, and, sometimes, treacherous world.
Illustrations, photographs and satellite imagery enhance a narrative that presents hard science and makes it accessible and very human. This is a book that investigates the changing face of the coastline through erosion, hurricanes and climate change. This is a book that matters."
Tideland Treasure
Our naturalist Bill Hamel says this is "a bible around here." Hand-drawn illustrations enhance the explanations. Each page was once an article in the local paper. Written for regular folks, there's information to satisfy trained naturalists.
"The Swamp Fox"
Here's the link to this article about one of the most famous Revolutionary War heroes in SC, and one for whom counties and cities are named. Francis Marion used his knowledge of the swamps and woods of SC and his attention to details to outwit British troops and earn his nickname. A poor speller, he was nonetheless a great report-writer. www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/biography/fox.html
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Ridgeland, SC
Program Concludes
Ridgeland, SC
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
14
| 5B |
4L |
5D |
Activity Level
Bring your binoculars for an adventure that’s perfect for novice birders. South Carolina’s Lowcountry, woven with salt marshes, blackwater swamps and hardwood forests, is a veritable haven for more than 250 bird species, including endangered species, threatened species and species of concern. Learn birding techniques, then hone them as you observe birds during migration along the Atlantic Flyway. Spot shorebirds, raptors, songbirds and other seasonal travelers on field trips to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Island and Pinckney Island. Possible species include White Pelicans, Prothonotary Warblers, Purple Gallinules, Wood Storks and others.)
Best of all, you'll...
- Search for the protected Red-cockaded Woodpecker during an excursion to the Webb Wildlife Center.
- Enjoy special field trips to sites in the ACE Basin and Port Royal Sound.
- Savor the cuisine of the Lowcountry as you enjoy an oyster roast, Lowcountry boil, Hoppin’ John and more.
General Notes
The Retreat Difference: This unique, often basic and no-frills experience at a Road Scholar Retreat includes opportunities for light exercise, interaction with the local community, an authentic farm-to-table or locally sourced meal and evening entertainment on at least one night. All Road Scholar birding programs have a maximum participant-to-instructor ratio of 7:1 in the field. We adhere to the American Birding Association’s Code of Ethics. Learn more at http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available.
Featured Expert
Elizabeth Anderegg
A graduate of the College of Charleston, Elizabeth Anderegg is a lifelong canoeist who discovered kayaking when her two daughters grew older and preferred their boating independence. Since 2006, she has served as a kayak and birding expert for Nature Adventures Outfitters. Now an ACA Kayak Instructor and a South Carolina Coastal Master Naturalist, Elizabeth brings to Road Scholar her love of nature and the outdoors, and her love of sharing these with others.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Bob Speare
Bob Speare has been a professional naturalist for over 25 years. He enjoys teaching about all aspects of natural history and has conducted birding tours across the US and internationally. Bob moved from Massachusetts to the Lowcountry in 2015. He is certified as a Lowcountry Master Naturalist and a South Carolina Master Gardener, and regularly works with the Audubon Society. Bob has also conducted photography programs and trips for over 20 years and has experience in teaching adult, children and family programs.
Activity Level
Outdoor: No Sweat
Walking up to 2-3 miles over uneven terrain; climbing in and out of a 15 passenger bus; standing for up to two hours at a time while viewing through spotting scopes and binoculars.
Small Group
(13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List
(9 Books)
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals | 5B | 4L | 5D |
3 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Check in from 4:00 p.m.
Afternoon:
Arrive at Palm Key between 4:00-5:30 p.m. to check in and pick up program materials. Once you are settled into your room, meet the others who are sharing your cottage and enjoy a chat on the back porch. At 5:30 pm, meet and greet other participants at a little party before dinner.
Dinner:
You are probably hungry after traveling, so enjoy the first of our sumptuous lowcountry dinners, served at 6:00 pm. Join other scholars to compare notes about previous programs and follow up on earlier conversations. Don't miss the dessert buffet!
Evening:
After dinner, join us for a short orientation as the Group Leader and instructors review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will review COVID-19 protocols and will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and requirements throughout the program. Finally, we'll talk about some of the birds you might expect to see this week and have a preview of the places we'll visit. Please note that Indicated times are approximate. Program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances including weather and seasonal hunting restrictions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Day
2
Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge Birding
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Comfortable walking shoes, binoculars, Sibley's Guide, and sunscreen are recommended. Short bus rides to birding locations. You will be walking on uneven terrain, standing for periods of 30 min. or more while looking at birds. Getting on/off a 15-passenger van.
Breakfast:
Breakfast will be served starting at 8:00 am. Fuel up on our sumptuous low country breakfast--you'll have an active day! Will it be grits and eggs? Or is it an oatmeal day? Come dressed for birding.
Morning:
With breakfast over, it's time to get down to the business of birding! Today we’ll be introduced to some of our local birds, which include a variety of waterbirds such as herons and egrets, songbirds (like sparrows), warblers, wrens and perhaps raptors such as red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks. Appropriately dressed, well-equipped with binoculars, your bird ID book and a water bottle, we'll set out to visit several wildlife refuges. Be prepared to stop along the way and spend some quality time in the bus discussing the birds we see. Our instructors will highlight the day's likely sightings: Carolina Wren, Little Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher and much more. Alligators and turtles, though not on your bird list, are still exciting to see!
Lunch:
Today's lunch will be a picnic, prepared by us from the delicious lunch buffet at breakfast. Did you make a sandwich out of whole-grain bread? Or choose trail mix, nuts, and fruit? Or both? Whatever you fixed, you'll enjoy it while we talk about what we've seen and what we hope to see.
Afternoon:
Enjoy the beauty of the refuges as we bird from one place to another. Everyone's eager, but we're being polite and letting everyone take a look through our spotting scopes. Pinckney Island Wildlife Refuge, our destination this afternoon, is a former plantation made up of a wide variety of land types: salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow field and freshwater ponds. These habitats support a diversity of bird and plant life. On Pinckney, we have the opportunity to see waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, neo-tropical migrants, white-tailed deer, and alligators. The area is rich in white ibis, herons, and egrets. If you want help extra help with bird ID, just let our instructors know--they are always happy to help and share their knowledge!
Dinner:
Back at Palm Key, showered and relaxed, it's time to enjoy a leisurely lowcountry dinner. Will it be rosemary chicken and brown rice? Or long-simmered roast beef with salad? Or savory southern barbecue? Whatever the menu, you'll surely enjoy it!
Evening:
After dinner, join us for one of our popular evening programs. We always try to offer you the opportunity to use your brain cells after supper--as well as relax, have some fun, and learn more about the lowcountry.
Day
3
Birding in the Ace Basin & More
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Wear comfortable shoes, you will likely do a lot of walking and standing as you take in the birds and different sights. Plan to ride on the bus from 30 minutes to 1 hour. You will be walking on uneven terrain, standing for periods of 30 min. or more while looking at birds. Getting on/off a 15-passenger van.
Breakfast:
Start the morning out right with a delicious low country breakfast at 8:00 a.m. Is today the day you'll try grits? Or is fruit and toast more your style? Be sure to fill your plate: you'll need energy for today's outing! And don't forget, you'll want to pack your lunch before making your final preparations for the morning's birding extravaganza.
Morning:
We're visiting some gems today: Sites within the ACE Basin are recognized as some of the best birding areas of the state. Besides a wide variety of year-round common and migratory species who are regularly here. Bear Island, Donnelly Wildlife Management Area and Bennett’s Point have been known to host a number of uncommon birds: Roseate Spoonbill, Black Rail, American Avocet, Hudsonian Godwit, and a variety of shorebirds. Who knows what birds we might see?
Lunch:
Today we enjoy a bag lunch--did you bring a boiled egg and craisins or a turkey and cheese sandwich? We hope you picked up a homemade cookie at the buffet this morning!
Afternoon:
This afternoon is a continuation of the morning--birding by foot, by eye, by ear. Keep a snack out of your lunch to enjoy during the mid-afternoon--you'll be glad you did!
Dinner:
At 6:00 p.m. we'll enjoy another lovely lowcountry meal--maybe fish tonight, with black-eyed pea salad! Swap stories about the day's adventures with your table-mates, and don't forget the dessert!
Evening:
This evening, join us for a program on South Carolina's lowcountry and its history and culture. The LifeTides Institute is known for its engaging presenters and interesting programs. Whatever it is, you don't want to miss it.
Day
4
Birding On & Around Hilton Head Island
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Pack your scopes and binoculars, sunshade and insect repellant. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing as you will do plenty of walking and standing. The bus ride to Hilton Head is about 1 hour. You will be walking on uneven terrain, standing for periods of 30 min. or more while looking at birds. Getting on/off a 15-passenger van.
Breakfast:
As always, be sure to fuel up with a delicious lowcountry breakfast. Don't forget to prepare your bagged lunch for later!
Morning:
Load up the bus! It's time to head out to Hilton Head Island. Known for its beaches and golf courses, Hilton Head Island also features a number of terrific birding locations. We’ll visit a beach site known for some of the best shorebirds in the area including Ruddy Turnstone, Back Skimmer, and the nationally threatened Piping Plover.
Lunch:
We'll have a healthy picnic lunch on our outing. Was it turkey today? Or organic peanut butter? Soy nuts or craisins? There's something for everyone.
Afternoon:
After lunch we'll continue our field trip in the Hilton Head area, exploring some forested and freshwater habitats to search for any songbirds, raptors, and waterbirds we may not have seen yet.
Dinner:
This evening, we'll meet for another lovely lowcountry meal--maybe shrimp and grits, or barbeque ribs and the fixings. You will have worked up an appetite today!
Evening:
This evening, join us for a program on South Carolina's lowcountry and its history and culture. The LifeTides Institute is known for its engaging presenters and interesting programs.
Day
5
Webb Wildlife Center & More
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
LifeTides Institute's Community of Cottages
Activity Note
Webb is a one-hour bus ride west of LifeTides' location. Make sure you again wear your most comfortable footwear as there will be walking on uneven terrain and standing for periods of time up to 30 minutes or more; getting on/off a 15-passenger van. Hats and sunblock, depending on the time of year, are advised.
Breakfast:
What will it be this morning? Ham and eggs? Homemade bread? Or maybe a bowl of fruit? But don't be late: we have a busy day ahead! (Don't forget to pack your lunch.)
Morning:
After breakfast we all load up in the bus and travel to Webb Wildlife Center. Webb Wildlife Center contains longleaf pine forest, the preferred habitat of the Red Cockaded Woodpecker, a jewel in this program’s crown. This morning, Scholars will bird in hardwood forest, blackwater swamp, and the aforesaid longleaf pine forest.
Lunch:
Once again, we'll picnic on our outing--what did you choose today? Whatever it is, it's sure to be healthy and delicious.
Afternoon:
We continue the fun into the mid afternoon. This is a full and active day, but it's not over yet.
Dinner:
Dinner begins early tonight with an old-timey Oyster Roast (weather and availability dependent)! Come join us at 5:00 p.m. as we steam fresh, local oysters over an open fire. Don't know how to open oysters? You can learn by doing--and eating. And then--it's time for another lowcountry dinner!
Evening:
After dinner, you won’t want to miss the wrap-up party. This is our last evening, and we can’t let it go by without doing it up special. Everyone will find something to enjoy as we share highlights from the week over dessert (if you still have room). You don’t want to miss this--but to tell you more right now would be to spoil it! If you brought one with you, do bring your musical instrument to our gathering spot.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Ridgeland, SC
Meals:
B
Breakfast:
Breakfast is at 8:00 a.m., and it's your last chance for grits! If you haven’t tried them yet, you just have to have some today. You’ll want to eat heartily, as today you will be packing up and leaving us for wherever your road takes you.
Morning:
This morning, after telling parting stories, asking questions, issuing invitations, or listening to one more joke from you-know-who, it’s off to pack up and prepare for departure. We hope you’ll stay in the area and do some more exploring—and/or birding--ask the staff for recommendations and directions. We’d love to share more of South Carolina and the lowcountry with you! This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
5 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Nov 17, 2024 - Nov 22, 2024
- Feb 09, 2025 - Feb 14, 2025
- Feb 16, 2025 - Feb 21, 2025
- Mar 02, 2025 - Mar 07, 2025
- Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 17, 2025
- Nov 02, 2025 - Nov 07, 2025
- Jan 25, 2026 - Jan 30, 2026
- Feb 08, 2026 - Feb 13, 2026
- Mar 01, 2026 - Mar 06, 2026
Participant Reviews
Based on 23 Reviews
Sort By:
I'm not a birder, or at least I wasn't, but the description said for "novice birders" and I had never been to South Carolina and the Life Tides cottages looked awesome and the way the meals are handled appealed to me so I decided to give it a whirl. I had no idea I would learn so much. About birds, about South Carolina, about trees and grasses and rivers and tides. Whether you're a birder or not, I encourage you to take this trip if only to meet the amazing teachers and staff. They don't just know their stuff, they are master teachers and really want you to learn. They aren't just extremely knowledgeable. They are patient, compassionate, funny, and kind. And the food is amazing. And those cottages? They are as cool as they look. A little bit cooler, actually. If you like being outdoors and you like people, and you don't need fancy (although the cottages are pretty close to fancy) this is the trip for you. And it doesn't matter one bit if you're a birder yet. You will be!
— Review left March 19, 2024
This is a wonderful way to see the beautiful South Carolina low country and have an amazing birding experience. The guides are extremely nice and exceptionally knowledgeable about the flora and fauna of the area, and--of course--about the local birds. They also have a unique talent to make everyone, regardless of their birding experience and abilities, feel welcome and respected. (This is not always true on other birding trips I have been on.) The accommodations and food were superior. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves being out in nature and watching birds.
— Review left March 18, 2024
Lowcountry birding offers the opportunity to learn about a variety of habitats, over one hundred species of birds and many plants and animals in an important, dynamic, and historic region. For a few days one can concentrate on nature while getting to know interesting people who share an interest in the program topics.
— Review left March 18, 2024
An excellent introduction to birding and also enjoyable for those who already do some birding. The instructors also share their knowledge of the local culture.
— Review left March 18, 2024
This was an amazing program. The small group size facilitated personal interactions and singles were an integral part of the group. The birding was great and we saw a lot of the low country in the process. The leaders were knowledgeable and went beyond exceptions to assure all enjoyed the experience. The lodgings were above my expectations. Nancy N.
— Review left March 17, 2024
This was a very satisfying birding experience in a unique region both historically, and geographically. Lots of birds were available to us, and though almost all were in winter plumage, it was still quite exciting to see them. The instructors were extraordinarily skilled in birding!
— Review left February 24, 2024
This was the perfect first time “birding outside the backyard” trip. I was enthusiastic about the subject, and this program delivered in spades! I saw and learned about 38 species of birds that I’d never seen before. The instructors were able to identify birds by sight and sound, offered interesting facts and stories about the birds and the areas we covered, and answered so many questions. They are so patient and willing to share their passion for birding. I highly recommend this trip and would like to go again in the spring.
— Review left November 30, 2023
The outstanding tour leaders - Bob Spear and Elizabeth Anderegg - made this program educational and fun. Their knowledge of the birds and wildlife in the low country as well as the culture and history of the area was impressive, and I came away knowing more about this beautiful area of South Caroline.
— Review left November 18, 2023
This is a lovely program in a beautiful setting directed by extremely knowledgable and congenial leaders who are able to accommodate and address a wide range of birding experience levels among group participants to meet everyone's interests and needs. It may not be suitable for the complete novice with no prior experience, but anyone with some degree of birding experience already under their belt can enjoy this program and learn a lot!
— Review left November 9, 2023
"Birding the Lowcountry" was a great week of birding and more. The guides were excellent and I came away with much greater knowledge of and appreciation for the area. If you are new to birding, the guides were extremely patient and helpful. If you're looking to add to your list, it's an opportunity to see numerous species. We had 116 in late October. The accommodations were very comfortable, spacious, well appointed and located on a pristine coastal salt marsh. (Sketchy internet and phone signals, however, in the cottages as stated in the program materials.) The food was the best I've ever experienced on the 17 RS tours that I've taken. This is a good one!
— Review left October 30, 2023
Highly recommended excursion with superb hospitality , accommodation and meals at LifeTides Palm Key.
Most certainly an enthusiastic and expert team of Bob and Elizabeth who arranged a fantastic series of locations with excellent sightings - Pinckney, Palm Royal, Donnelly were marvelous along with the early morning walks.
This trip I did back in 2018 and wanted to repeat , enjoyed it even more this time.
After each location, the e-bird list was immediately updated - an idea that all RS bird trips should follow !
— Review left April 7, 2023
If you love birds, nature , excellent food and are looking for a top-notch week, BOOK THIS . Oh, and bring your binoculars. Tour leaders Bob & Elizabeth are outstanding: funny, knowledgeable, excellent naturalists and will show you BIRDS! 111 identified on my trip, 38 added to my life list. Jan at Tidelands makes outstanding healthy, yummy foods! You WILL make friends: Feathered and human! "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin"
Jean E
— Review left March 24, 2023
Birding the Lowcountry is a fabulous program, and I highly recommend it to those interested in bird watching, photography, and history. Our guides, Bob Speare and Elizabeth Anderegg, expertly led us through the entire week and our hosts, Jan and Andy of LifeTides Institute (see https://lifetides.org), took exceptional care of us by providing wonderful meals and arranging lovely accommodations at the Community of Cottages (see https://lifetides.org/lti-cottages). An added benefit is that my husband, Bruce, now enjoys watching and listening to birds...a benefit that we carried home with us.
— Review left March 23, 2023
Great birding trip! The setting at Palm Key was absolutely beautiful. Our cottage was wonderful and comfortable , just like having your own little house. Jan and Andy were warm and welcoming. The meals that they provided were delicious and nutritious, probably the best that I have had on a Road Scholar trip. Elizabeth was great about relating the history and stories of the areas we visited. Bob was great about pointing out various birds and making sure that we saw them. I highly recommend this trip.
— Review left March 23, 2023
If you have the opportunity to attend this program led by Bob and Elizabeth, jump at it. I love watching birds, but I wasn’t an avid birder before I attended this program. Now my interest in birding has arrived. I’m hearing birds everywhere I go. I had planned to stay in South Carolina for an additional week seeing the various low country sites. The difference now is I’m sightseeing with my binoculars.
— Review left March 19, 2023
The combination of longleaf pine woods and tidal pools offer an opportunity to see a wide variety of shorebirds and unusual songbirds. The leaders were very knowledgably about the birds' habits as well as the local ecology and cultural history. They were friendly and engaging and made sure that everyone saw the elusive bird before we moved on. And they delivered the red cockaded woodpecker, my fondest hope for the trip!
Another highlight of the trip was the Gullah Elders basket makers. They offered a unique insight into the deep cultural heritage of the area.
The accommodations were quite pleasant. My husband and I shared a 2 bedroom, 2 bath house with another couple. All meals were prepared by LifeTides staff and were freshly prepared. They provided delicious alternatives for the few vegetarians among us.
Finally, I would recommend that you read Looking for Longleaf by Lawrence Early beforehand. I bought mine from Better World Books. It really enhanced the experience for me.
— Review left March 9, 2023
Birding the Carolina Lowcountry was a wonderful trip, amazing landscape, Bob and Elizabeth were wonderful guides and I saw a great many birds. The destinations were varied and were all magical and it was an excellent tutorial for sea and shore birds. The others in the group were all very compatible and as a single I felt very comfortable with the couples, it was a very inclusive group.
And the Lifetides Institute could not have made me and the others feel more welcome. The cottages were modern homes with full kitchens, 2 large master suites with ensuite bathrooms separated by a large well furnished living room and a large furnished porch. And the hosts, Jan, the Road Scholar Program Coordinator, and Andy with LifeTides Institute, went out of their way to make me feel at home with their friendliness and amazing cooking and baking. The food was outstanding, and as a vegetarian the special meals made for me and the other vegetarians could not have been better, each so well prepared and thoughtfully done. Jan and Andy fully enriched and enhanced the Lowcountry experience with their down home hospitality.
I contacted Jan before the trip to see if I could arrive early, and went over the menu with her so that she understood my needs which made the week go very smoothly, and she was in contact with another program participant, knew we were arriving at the same time, connected us so that I shared the cost of the rental car with them, which made it very nice for both of us. The taxi service listed wanted $216 one way, so no one used them. I highly recommend the trip, for the location, for the guides, and for the hosts at Lifetides Institute who made me feel like family.
— Review left February 28, 2023
Birding the Low Country in South Carolina at LifeTide Institute was marvelous. The accommodations and food were exceptional. The setting of the Institute is lovely. The birding guides were knowledgeable, capable, and fun. The program exceeded our expectations.
— Review left February 26, 2023
Excellent program about birds. However, the instructors are knowledgeable about other wildlife, plants, climate, etc. Wonderful accommodations and meals at LifeTides Institute. Highly recommended.
— Review left February 26, 2023
Top rate leaders and a lovely, comfortable, and hospitable home base put the program in the top tier of my Road Scholar experiences.
— Review left February 24, 2023
I strongly recommend this trip. The guides are knowledgeable, entertaining and kind. The food and accommodations are exceptionally good. I had a great time and added new birds to my life list!
— Review left March 12, 2019
Life Tides is in a lovely setting,something out of the book Prince of Tides. The staff was warm and welcoming and the food was delicious. The leaders,especially Bob Speare, were knowledgable and patient.
— Review left March 11, 2019
The leader, Bob Speare, was exceptional. Knowledgable about birds but also a lover of nature and kind with novices. The accommodations and food were outstanding, in one of the prettiest setting I've ever stayed.
— Review left March 9, 2019
