Breach Inlet
Robin Carter
Directions
From I-26: from the southern terminus of I-26 in Charleston take US 17 north, towards Mount Pleasant. Take the first exit after crossing the high bridge, SC 703, West Coleman Boulevard. At 2.5 miles from US 17 bear right (south) on Ben Sawyer Boulevard to continue on SC 703. Ben Sawyer Boulevard crosses a broad salt marsh and enters Sullivan's Island. At about 6 miles from US 17 turn left (east) onto Jasper Boulevard (still SC 703) and go 1.6 miles to a small parking lot just before the bridge over Breach Inlet.
From I-526: Go to the northeastern terminus of I-526 in Mount Pleasant. Instead of exiting onto US 17 keep going straight ahead on I-526 Business, East Coleman Boulevard. Continue on East Coleman Boulevard to its junction with SC 703. Here turn left (south) onto SC 703, Ben Sawyer Boulevard. Ben Sawyer Boulevard crosses a broad salt marsh and enters Sullivan's Island. Once on the island turn left (east) onto Jasper Boulevard (still SC 703) and go 1.6 miles to a small parking lot just before the bridge over Breach Inlet.
From US 17 southbound: Take SC 517, the Isle of Palms Connector, south, over a broad salt marsh, to the Isle of Palms. At about 4 miles from US 17 turn right (east) onto SC 703, Palm Boulevard and go 1.4 miles. Cross the bridge over Breach Inlet onto Sullivan's Island and park at a small lot on the left, just after the bridge.
Birds to look for
scaup (w), scoters (w), Red-breasted Merganser (w), Red-throated Loon (w), Common Loon (w), Horned Grebe (w), Northern Gannet (w), Brown Pelican, Reddish Egret (fall), Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Willet, Ruddy Turnstone, Red Knot, Sanderling, Purple Sandpiper (w), Dunlin, Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern (s), Common Tern (spring, fall), Forster's Tern, Least Tern (s), Black Skimmer, Eurasian Collared-Dove
Description
The best birding is usually from the parking lot, which is often full. From here you have a good view of the inlet and out to sea. Purple Sandpipers are rare but regular at rock groins along the nearby beaches of Isle of Palms and Sullivan's Island. If you are very lucky you might spy a Common Ground-Dove. This species was regular here in the 1980's and still may show up from time to time.