Birding • Photography • Writing
Explore the birds, habitats, and seasonal rhythms of coastal South Carolina through firsthand field observations, evocative photography, and practical birding insights. Although Hilton Head Island and the Lowcountry remain at the heart of my work, I occasionally follow birds, landscapes, and changing light into other places that invite the same kind of attention.
Welcome to Lowcountry Birds and Nature
Rooted on Hilton Head Island, I explore the birds, landscapes, and seasonal rhythms of the South Carolina Lowcountry through field-based storytelling, evocative photography, and firsthand birding insights.
I’m Patty Kappmeyer, a writer, photographer, and experienced birder with a particular interest in shorebirds, migration, bird behavior, and ethical wildlife photography. Through patient observation, I create stories and resources that help people recognize bird behavior, understand the habitats birds depend on, and experience a closer connection to the natural world.
Birds of Hilton Head
Find seasonal birding information, local hotspots, species resources, and guidance for observing birds responsibly.
Stories from the Field
Read essays, observations, bird photography guidance, and stories from the Lowcountry and other landscapes.
Photography
View photographs and field notes shaped by bird behavior, changing light, patient observation, and respect for wildlife.
Books and Guides
Explore Flight Through the Seasons and practical resources for birders, photographers, visitors, and new residents.
Work with Me
Bring Birds, Photography, and Place to Your Audience
I work with media outlets, conservation and community organizations, educators, travel partners, and individuals seeking knowledgeable, engaging perspectives on Lowcountry birds, wildlife photography, habitats, and natural history.
Experience Rooted in the Field
My work combines more than thirty years of field experience with writing, photography, teaching, and conservation education. I am the author of Flight Through the Seasons: Discover Birding and Photography in the Lowcountry of Hilton Head Island, a Hilton Head Audubon board member and editor of Ecobon, and a contributor to Camera in the Wild and REI’s guide to bird-watching for beginners.
My work has been featured by WHHI-TV, Scripps News, LOCAL Life, and other regional and national outlets. In 2025, my photograph Black-bellied Plover with Sea Worm received first place in the Carolina Critters category of the South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s wildlife photography contest.
Latest from the Field
Spotlight
First Place Winner, Carolina Critters Category — South Carolina Wildlife Federation’s 2025 Wildlife Photography Contest for my image Black-bellied Plover with Sea Worm. This recognition reflects a commitment to ethical wildlife photography grounded in careful observation, patience, and respect for place, capturing an intimate coastal moment that celebrates the behaviors and beauty of South Carolina’s shorebirds.
Featured Photography
Birds, habitats, and the quiet moments revealed through patient observation
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