About: Bear Island Wildlife along with Donnelley WMA, is part of the ACE Basin – Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto – three rivers which form the basin in St. Helena Sound. Birding is excellent in this area all year long. Bear Island is one of the best birding areas in the state. In addition to common birds of the Coastal Plain and the specialties listed above there is a long of rarities seen here, including Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Eurasian Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Common Goldeneye, Eared Grebe, Roseate Spoonbill, Black Rail, American Avocet, Hudsonian Godwit, White-winged Dove, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Western Tanager, and LeConte's Sparrow.
The main part of Bear Island is open to birders Monday through Saturday, from 1 February through 14 October. At other times birders are restricted to areas right along Bennett's Point Road, including Mary's House Pond, which is just south of the residences by the main entrance. Do not go in to closed areas, even if the gate is not locked, or you risk getting a ticket. The best birding is usually along the main unpaved road east from Bennett's Point Road, called either Titi Lane or Johnnie Hiers Road. A good strategy is to drive in along Titi Lane and then park and walk in along any of the many side roads. The side roads are usually gated. If you have time you might also want to check one or more of the roads that lead west from Bennett's Point Road. It takes more than a complete day to check out the entire area. The village of Bennett's Point, at the end of Bennett's Point Road, is usually worth a quick check. Eurasian Collared-Doves are more common in the village than in the wildlife management area, and there has been a White-winged Dove with the collared doves in Bennett's Point on more than one occasion.
Location: Bear Island South Carolina 29446. From Jacksonboro head south on U.S. 17 for approximately 7.2 miles. Look for Bennetts Point Road and Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, turn left onto Bennetts Point Road.
Hours: Hours of Operation: dawn to dusk, Monday - Saturday. The area is closed from October 15 to February 1 every year to protect waterfowl.
Link: https://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/mrri/acechar/index.html
