A few things to know before your trip:

When does the trip begin? When does the boat return?
On Friday, you’ll meet at our Basecamp on St Helena Island (1928 Sea Island Parkway) at 10 a.m. for a quick orientation before you depart for the island. On Sunday, you’ll be back to Basecamp by 2 p.m.

I have to cancel my reservation, can I get my deposit back?
Deposits are non-refundable. Due to the high demand for this trip, you must make a commitment of 50% payment to claim a spot.

Do you cancel for rain or bad weather?
We will cancel and give 100% refunds if the weather is dangerous (hurricane, tropical storm, etc.). Otherwise, check the forecast and pack the appropriate gear for the season. Be prepared to hike in the rain, cold, wind, or sun.

Is this the same product offered by the State Park Service?
No, SCPRT offers 5 night rentals of the Turner House through their website here: https://southcarolinaparks.com/hunting-island/the-turner-house. Our offering is an all-inclusive, guided, 3 day/2 night expedition through Coastal Expeditions Beaufort. Pricing, duration, offerings, and booking agency vary depending on the product you are interested in.

Will I have my own room and bathroom?
We cannot guarantee that you will have your own room or bathroom due to the family-style accommodations of the Turner and Caretaker House. We cannot guarantee lodging in a specific house. Room assignments are carefully considered for each trip and we do our best to give each group their own room, but it doesn’t always work out this way. All guests, especially solo travelers, should be prepared for the possibility of sharing a room with fellow travelers. If you’re traveling with friends that are on separate reservations but you don’t mind sharing a room with, please let us know.

What is the expected level of physical activity?
We are almost always on the go between meals! Every day, you will walk several miles at a comfortable pace. Our longer hikes will typically range from 5-7 miles. Boat rides, safari-style rides, and kayak trips (weather-dependent) through and around the island may also be on the itinerary.

Do I get an itinerary before the trip?
Throughout the trip, your guides will prepare you with a daily itinerary that will adapt based on the tides, weather, and season. All outings are optional but highly encouraged! Some things to look forward to: Sunrise in the Boneyard, sunset boat cruise, nature hikes, beachcombing strolls, and more!

What if I have dietary restrictions?
We are prepared to accommodate strict food allergies and dietary restrictions. You’ll fill out a questionnaire at the time of booking, where you can inform us about your needs. Please keep in mind that these are group meals and everything will need to be transported to the island and prepared by your guides. We ask that you be as flexible as possible with your diet. For example, if you don’t eat pork or are allergic to shrimp, let us know! But don’t choose this as your weekend to give up dairy or go on a cleanse – this is a biscuits and gravy kind of weekend.

Is this trip suitable for those who have mobility issues?

While you are not required to participate in the guided hikes during the expedition, this is designed to be an active weekend on an undeveloped island with unpaved roads. There are one to two flights of stairs to access the living quarters at the Turner House and Caretaker’s House, and unfortunately no ADA ramps built for these facilities. Please call us if you have any doubts about your ability to partake in this weekend and we’d be happy to answer your questions.

Can I bring personal drinks and snacks?
We will have plenty of food at meals and refreshments for you to access throughout the day. You may also bring personal snacks and drinks that fit in your weekend bags. Alcohol is allowed on this trip but use good judgment.

What should I pack and wear?
We’ll send a packing sheet and additional information prior to your trip. But basically, you’ll need clothes, toiletries, a day pack for excursions, and a reusable water bottle. Dress for the outdoors – practical shoes and quick-drying clothing with layers for protection from the sun and bugs. Multiple layers are encouraged since temperature and weather conditions can change throughout the day. Please check the forecast prior to your trip and remember that it can feel up to 10 degrees colder when we’re out on the water.

Can I arrive late or leave the island early?
If there is an emergency, yes. But otherwise, you need to plan to be on the island for the entirety of the trip. Trip leaders will not make special boat trips to and from the island to accommodate personal schedules.

Is there heat and air conditioning?
Yes! The house is fully equipped with HVAC and hot water for your comfort.

Is there WIFI or cell phone service?
There is limited WiFi available at the houses. Cell phone service is usually pretty reliable on the island due to its proximity to Hilton Head.

Is there coffee?
Absolutely! Freshly brewed coffee and a variety of individual teas will be available daily.

Ready to plan your escape to St Phillips?

The White Ibis, or Eudocimus albus, is a wading bird frequently seen here in the low country. Adult white ibises are white with a long-curved red bill and bright red legs and a red bare patch around their eye and bill. As for the juveniles, they have patches of white and brown with light pink, legs, face, and bill. These birds are often seen foraging near fresh, brackish, and salt water. They probe for various insects and crustaceans by inserting their long-curved bill into the mud and feeling for prey. Once they feel something, they pinch it like tweezers and pull it from the mud. After they are pulled from the mud, they will often rinse the mud off or if they have captured a crab or crayfish, they will remove the claws and shell. They have also been known to stab or pinch small frogs, fish, lizards, newts, and snails while walking along the water’s edge.

During nesting season, the white ibis will nest in colonies in trees or shrubs and the female will build the nest in the forks of live or dead trees. The male will gather sticks while the female will occasionally gather sticks to build the nest, and after 7 days the nest is fully built and ready to house some eggs! It has also been seen that the white ibis will nest and forage near freshwater due to their chicks being unable to consume large amounts of salt. Both parents are invested in their young and will take turns feeding the chicks. After 7 weeks, the juvenile Ibises can forage and fly on their own and will leave the colony and can often be seen foraging with the adults.

The white ibis is the most prevalent wading bird in the southeast. In recent years, their total range has increased in the U.S, with a northward spread on the Atlantic Coast. Their population has also been steady since 1966 and Partners in Flight has estimated that their global breeding population is 2.4 million and is of low conservation concern. But, like other wading birds they rely on the wetlands and any changes to water levels may affect the white ibises survival and breeding success. The white ibis is a resilient wading bird that can be seen throughout the low country. Summer is usually the best time of year to find these birds, and the Sunset Tour from the downtown Beaufort marina gives a great opportunity to climb onboard our USCG certified vessel, appropriately named Ibis, to see these birds returning to their evening roost in the Cypress Wetlands.

Post by Ally Jo Salomon (Naturalist)

It’s not a flamingo, it’s a Roseate Spoonbill! These large pink wading birds have a spoon-shaped bill and bare yellowish green head. These beautiful birds can be found foraging in fresh, brackish, and marine waters and will roost and nest in shrubs along the water’s edge. How are they pink? Well, Roseate Spoonbills are pink due to their diet that consists of a variety of crustaceans and other small aquatic invertebrates that contain a pigment called carotenoids. When foraging, they sweep their partly opened spoon-shaped bill back and forth through the water feeling and looking for crustaceans. When they find their prey, they snap their bill closed and swallow their prey whole!

Roseate Spoonbills are social birds and often nest in colonies with egrets, herons, and ibises. The males will shake nearby twigs and bob their heads to attract a female. Once they are paired, the male will present the female with sticks, and she begins building the nest. The pair will only stay together for one breeding season and the female will build the nest in the shadiest part of the tree or shrub up to 16 feet high. When the chick is first hatched it does not have a spoon-shaped bill like its name suggests! The spoon-shaped bill will form over time and at 39 days its bill is nearly full size.

These unique birds can live up to 15 years and are 1 of 6 spoonbills in the world but are the only spoonbill that can be found in the Americas. Due to Roseate Spoonbills nesting and foraging in areas that are difficult to reach and survey, obtaining an estimate of their population is difficult. The best estimates on their populations have been obtained by the  North American Breeding Bird Survey and Partners in Flight. With these estimates the North American Breeding Bird Survey has found their populations have nearly increased 6.5% per year between 1966 and 2019.  With their population steadily growing, the species is of low conservation concern, although in some areas, nesting Roseate Spoonbills are vulnerable to human disturbance from boating and other recreational activities that have resulted in nests being abandoned. The Roseate Spoonbill is truly an amazing bird and can often be seen foraging along the water’s edge and showing off its pretty pink color. To witness these beautiful birds in action join us on the water either through a guided boat, kayak, and paddleboard tour or on your own by renting a kayak or paddleboard!

Post by Ally Jo Salomon (Naturalist Guide)

Bonnethead Sharks or Sphyrna tiburo are the smallest member of the hammerhead family that can reach up to 4 feet long. They are an amazing indication here in the low country that summer has arrived! The once quiet salt marsh is now full of bonnethead sharks that can be found feeding on a variety of crustaceans and small fish during low tide near the exposed mudflats. Although these sharks are mostly carnivorous, they occasionally eat plants such as seaweed or seagrass making them omnivores unlike their other hammerhead family members.

 

But, just like other hammerhead sharks, the bonnethead shark has an odd, shaped head that distinguishes them from other shark species. They have a unique shovel shaped head that allows them to make sharper turns and have a wider range of vision when hunting for prey. Not only are their heads different than other shark species, but they are the only known species of shark in the world that you can distinguish females from males based on their heads. Female bonnethead sharks have a smooth round head compared to the males who have a bulge on their head. Recent research has also suggested bonnethead sharks are sensitive to the earth’s magnetic field and likely utilize it during migration to navigate from deep waters in the winter to shallower waters in the summer.

Like dolphins, these sharks also travel in groups of up to 15 but have been seen in the thousands during migration! Bonnethead sharks also excrete cerebrospinal fluid that informs other sharks nearby of their arrival. Bonnethead sharks are a unique and amazing animal that has been listed as an endangered species since 2019 due to overfishing by small scale fisheries. To see these awesome sharks in person join us on a guided boat or kayak tour or enjoy them on your own adventure by renting a kayak or paddleboard!

Post by Ally Jo Salomon (Naturalist Guide)

Being in a kayak is not only a watersport, but a very personal experience. At the helm of a boat, the spartina grass passes by quickly, creating a green blur in the periphery of my eyesight. The oyster reefs go from sedentary havens peeking out of the water to mounds of pluff mud as the boat speeds by, guests eager to see Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. From the seat of my kayak, the spartina explodes with life, insects taking flight and periwinkles slowly making their way up the bright green reeds. The oyster reefs are a sprawling city of fiddler, blue and stone crabs, grass shrimp breaching the water’s surface, and Atlantic oysters as they spit water during the receding tide. From the seat of my kayak, the marsh comes to life.

As I paddle through the salt marsh estuaries of Beaufort, I am able to feel a close connection with everything surrounding me. It is a serene place to be, to shut my eyes and listen, and to observe. The sounds of the marsh include the chatter of red-winged blackbirds, the snap of pistol shrimp, the splash of bait fish moving in schools at the surface of the water, and the rush of saltwater around my boat. My nose is greeted with wind that carries the scent of sea salt, with hints of that characteristic sulfuric smell that comes from anaerobic bacteria in the pluff mud. From the seat of my kayak, I am really able to get close to shorebirds like the whimbrel and see the patterns of their plumage. Even secretive birds like the clapper rail make themselves known as my kayak quietly passes by. In the presence of my boat, bonnethead sharks feel confident enough to forage for crabs on the bank while I look on in awe. Glancing over the side of my kayak during low tide, I can catch glimpses into the mysterious lives of animals like the red beard sponge, sea whips, and shellfish such as banded tulips. The animals, insects, grass, mud, water, scents, and noises all work together like one great machine to create the character of the salt marsh.

From the seat of my kayak, I become a functioning part of this brilliant, fragile, and complex ecosystem. From the seat of my kayak, I realize I have always been a part of it.

Post by Eric Ng (Naturalist)

Osprey are raptors found around nearly every body of water. Some may even migrate great distances in pursuit of ideal habitat. Perched or flying above rivers, ponds, reservoirs, coral reefs and here throughout the lowcountry; our salt marshes. Their simplistic stick nests can be found in dead trees, on man-made osprey platforms and even using channel markers as foundations. The nests are most often positioned in wide open spaces, often right over the water. They are visual hunters who use open perches or flying in their unmistakable M shape to scan the water for fish using their incredible eyesight.

Osprey eyes have four types of color sensors compared to our three, this allows them to perceive ultraviolet light along with the light visible to humans. Along with binocular vision they have an amazing peripheral field as well, giving them a wide range to the sides. Osprey also have dark feathers surrounding their eyes to reflect the sun’s glare bouncing off the water. Even more advanced is their calculation of the refractive index. Determining exactly how deep prey is as water depth changes the angle a fish might appear from above vs under water. Scientists even think they can ‘see’ the earth’s magnetic field which allows precise navigation over long migrations. An osprey’s right eye contains specialized proteins which are thought to perceive the earth’s magnetic fields.

Like most birds of prey, an interesting way to determine the age of an osprey is to look at the color of their eyes. They are born with dark blue or black eyes and after a few days the eyes will change to an amber color. Once the youngsters fledge they typically head on a migration all the way down to South America, amber eyes and all. When they return north after 1.5-3 years, they return with amazing bright yellow eyes, marking them as mature and ready to breed!

Post by Matt Luzon (Captain)

“Messenger,” (1-5)
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.
Mary Oliver (2006)

Looking out from the bow of the boat, the horizon stretches low. Treeline strings along the horizon, where the channels and creeks do not extend. Coming from the sea islands, the salt marsh has a refreshing and minimal appearance. Vibrant green cordgrass, a moody grey sky, mist in the air. Clean and simple lines are made by the distant islands, the water and the sky, as well as the estuary grasses that meander along. White phantom-like egrets rise from the grass. Beautiful white feathered wings unfurling, their flight arching overhead, or gliding above the water. This area is punctuated by the occasional bridge, connecting the developed islands to one another.

Arriving at the St. Phillips, the scenery transforms. Setting forward on mostly undeveloped land, we move from the dock, and into the canopy of the climax maritime forest. Near the water, there are sparse trees that gradually descend into a old complex forest. The plant life here feels loud, leaves of varying sizes and shapes zig-zag across one another. Soft spanish moss lazes down from the trees, bright pink bubblegum lichen speckle the trunks. Vibrant and lively, the contrast from land to barrier island is polarizing.

Wind and water must have formed this land. This is the Coastal Plain of South Carolina, the majority of the land sits at 270 feet above sea level. Also known as the Lowcountry, this unique region was formed from the powerful rise and fall of the sea level, eroding over time. There seems to be an advantage to unique shapes in nature that can work with the wind, rather than be destroyed by it.

Salinity has a huge influence over the plant density and types. This can interfere with a plants ability to uptake nitrogen, and reproduce. So, in the estuary the few plants able to tolerate high salt levels live in or boarder the marsh waters. As we moved inland the biodiversity seemed to increase thanks to the lower salinity, and protection from the extreme conditions that storms can create. Focusing on abiotic forces leaves me with the sense that the elements have set the current stage, which is one of many in a long epic story.

Experiences like this have begun to change how I approach my daily life. Suddenly, almost everywhere I go becomes a place that can be read like the marsh, with the right amount of curiosity. Indicator species can clue us in on the health of areas. Geology of a space hints at unrecognizable landscapes from different times. This inspires my curiosity, not just about science, but art as well. Many mediums and individuals have tried to express the awe that being a part of the natural world makes us feel.

“Swan”
Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music– like the rain pelting the trees– like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?
Mary Oliver 2010

Post by Emily Brazier (Naturalist Guide)

The barrier islands of the South Carolina lowcountry are a charming and important geological landform. Situated directly in contact with the Atlantic ocean, barrier islands protect more proximal sea islands and the mainland from high energy storm cells. Unlike sea islands, barrier islands are in a perpetual state of change. In fact, they can change by the day, and on St. Phillip’s island, the beach drop off point is where this daily and weekly shift can be seen most immediately. My previous trip out to the island stunned me by how different the beachfront looked compared to the last time I saw it, about 2 weeks before. Every time I visit, more and more debris accumulates on the high tide line bordering the beach trail. But, despite this frequent physical metamorphosis, the island takes on a fairly lonely role as being one of the last pristine safe havens for migrating and nesting seabirds and shorebirds along the coast of South Carolina.

I walked south towards the southern tip of the beachfront. On this particular day, the tide was extremely low, exposing vast areas of sand flats that aren’t normally visible. It was a bright, sunny morning with not a cloud in the sky, the smell of salt was heavy on the air, and I had one goal: to get a good view of the seabirds taking advantage of the exposed sand flats to rest and forage.

The exposed sand flat behind the large congregation of seabirds.

To my pleasant surprise, I was able to make out every single species of tern off the lowcountry coast at that time, in addition to many other species and a large group of my favorite seabird: the black skimmer. This bird is beautifully unique, and exhibits a really interesting foraging technique where they fly extremely close to the water’s surface with their lower mandible skimming for fish. Upon contact with a prey item, the bird quickly shuts their large, black and orange bills. The bill is actually a great way to identify them, as they seem to have a large underbite.

A small portion of the black skimmers seen. One can be seen laying completely down, which is done to cool off in the heat.

Seeing this sparked in me a sense that I was witnessing a rare congregation, a feeling that I was lucky to see such an aggregation of seabirds. And in part, I was. Habitats such as the exposed sand flat with little vegetation around and not a single man-made structure in view are quickly disappearing. The majority of barrier islands here are now developed, and are continuing to have more homes and municipalities spawn. With that comes a double edged sword that is detrimental for birds like the black skimmer: habitat loss and human disturbance. Each edge has worked to cut the black skimmer population down about 87% in 49 years of surveying. The skimmer is particularly sensitive to disturbance, especially during nesting season (May through July). If disturbed during this time, nesting mates quickly abandon eggs and do not return to continue incubating. This is why the majority of the recorded skimmer nests occur on protected islands where disturbance is prohibited, such as Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge.

The low tide line where numerous whelks, clams, starfish, hermit crabs, and horseshoe crabs were found.

No matter the beach you visit this summer, you can do your part in ensuring birds like the black skimmer can nest successfully. Keeping dogs on their leashes, giving large groups of birds a wide berth, and avoiding the dune areas are all ways you can help protect such magnificent birds. Come visit St. Phillip’s with us to witness one of the last remaining southern safe havens.

Post by Eric Ng (Naturalist Guide)

Marsh tackys are a rare breed of colonial Spanish horse that is only found in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. They were brought here in the 1500s by Spanish explorers, but when those expeditions failed, they were left here and adapted to living in the salt marsh estuary that surrounds the islands of Beaufort County. These adaptations are seen in their thick skin and solid hooves that allow them to traverse a variety of landscapes and fend off gnats and mosquitoes found in the depths of the maritime forest. There are approximately 400 tackys left in South Carolina and the small herd that lives on Horse Island can sometimes be seen from a distance from our Basecamp on St Helena.

Want to see these horses yourself? Rent a kayak or paddleboard to plan your own expedition today! If you’d like a little more guidance, check out our 2-hour St Helena Kayak Safari that starts on May 1.