Tag Archives: State Park

Kalmia Gardens and Cheraw State Park – Hessel’s Hairstreak and Elfins (Hartsville, SC)

We will begin the day at Kalmia Gardens. The address on their website is listed as 1624 West Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, but that is the mailing address for the building in the center of the gardens. We will meet in the parking lot; the entrance to the parking lot on West Carolina Avenue is located at GPS coordinates 34.36548, -80.11746. At Kalmia we will be looking for the stand of Atlantic White Cedar which is the host plant for Hessel’s Hairstreak.

After spending some time in and around the gardens, we will drive approximately 30 minutes to Cheraw State Park. Our target species at Cheraw are all the elfins and, again, Hessel’s Hairstreak.

Marty and Dave Kastner will lead this walk. Please RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

REVISED DATE – Carolina Sandhills NWR and Cheraw State Park – Elfins & Hessel’s Hairstreak (near McBee, SC)

REVISED DATE – Moved to Sunday, April 2 (from Saturday, April 1)

The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk at the Carolina Sandhills NWR (National Wildlife Refuge) and Cheraw State Park in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Our target species will be all the elfins and Hessel’s Hairstreak.

Please meet in the parking lot at the visitor center of Carolina Sandhills NWR. The main entrance is on US Highway 1, about 4 miles northeast of McBee, SC. The address is 23734 U.S. Highway 1, McBee, SC 29101, and the GPS coordinates are 34.502551, -80.223653.

There are restroom facilities at Lake Bee, but we will not be near there until later in the day if at all. There are gas stations in McBee. We will drive to different areas at both locations and stop to look for butterflies. Walking will be minimal. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Marty and Dave Kastner will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact kastners@aol.com if you can attend.

Haw River State Park

We will be exploring the new Iron Ore Belt Access section to the west.  Please note, do NOT go to the Haw River SP conference center in Browns Summit.  Meet at the Iron Ore Belt Access section parking lot near the pit toilet at 6064 N. Church St., Greensboro, NC 27455.  For more information, visit their website: https://www.ncparks.gov/haw-river-state-park

Although our chapter has been elsewhere in the park in previous years, we have not gone as a group to the Iron Ore Belt Access section. A few of our members scouted this section back in the winter and noted a power line right-of-way, some meadows, and a wetland that look promising for butterflies. We will walk an easy to moderate woodland trail to get to these sites. The trail seemed a bit rocky and had projecting tree roots periodically, but there wasn’t a large elevation change.

Bring plenty of water to drink and dress for the summer weather. Binoculars, cameras, field guides, insect repellent, and sunscreen probably will be useful.

Contact the field trip coordinator, Anne Carlson carlsonanne74@gmail.com or register on the CBS website if you plan to participate. Participants are welcome to come on our walks without contacting the coordinator, but you may miss us if there are last minute changes in the trip details. Trip coordinators will contact those who register for our field trips with updates on weather issues, changes in timing or meeting places, and other details.

This will be an interesting butterfly walk because we will be exploring an area new to us. We believe that it’s suitable for beginners as well as seasoned butterfliers. However, since we aren’t sure about the terrain and distances involved, it would be best for kids and folks with ambulatory issues to skip this one. Guests are welcome but no pets, please.

 

Pilot Mountain State Park

The Triad Chapter of Carolina Butterfly Society will hold a butterfly walk at Pilot Mountain State Park in Surry County.  Meet at the base of the mountain at the drive entrance.  We will check out the butterflies in the meadow in this area.  Be alert for changes in this plan in case we have to change the meeting place due to weekend crowding.  After exploring the meadow, we will proceed up the mountain to the parking lot at the top near the restrooms.

Contact the field trip coordinator, Gene Schepker geneschepker@gmail.com, if you plan to participate. Participants are welcome to come on our walks without contacting the coordinator, but you may miss us if there are last minute changes in the trip details. Trip coordinators will contact those who register for our field trips with updates on weather issues, changes in timing or meeting places, and other details.

Wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water to drink, and dress for the summer weather. Binoculars, cameras, field guides, insect repellent and sunscreen probably will be useful. Those who wish to have a picnic lunch while on the top should bring their own food and drink because there is no place nearby to get them.

Our targets are Common Roadside Skipper, Mourning Cloak, and Hoary Edge, as well as other butterflies.

This trip is suitable for beginners as well as seasoned butterfliers. However, since the ground is uneven and there are potential tripping and falling hazards, it would be best for parents with kids and folks with ambulatory issues to seriously consider the possible dangers. Guests are welcome but no pets, please.

NABA Count – Weymouth Woods – Sandhills NP

Meet up will be at the Visitor’s Center in the morning. This location offers a pleasant walk through stands of pine forests. Pathways are packed sand. Wearing sturdy walking or hiking shoes is recommended along with long sleeves and pants as we will go off trail in some locations to look for as many butterfly species as possible. It is recommended you use a good bug spray, wear sunscreen, and carry water with you. Be sure to bring with you those items you may need to have a pleasant experience.

It is recommended you bring a packed lunch and snacks with plenty of water. The Visitor’s Center has public restrooms and a water fountain. The nearest towns of Aberdeen and Southern Pines have many restaurants and other accommodations.

Target species for this count are the King’s and Edward’s Hairstreaks. Additional species commonly seen are Palamedes, Spicebush, and Tiger Swallowtails; Common Buckeyes, Eastern Tailed Blues and Azures, and assorted duskywings.

The results of last year’s count can be viewed here.

Photos from Weymouth Woods NABA Count 2017
Edward’s Hairstreak King’s Hairstreak

NABA Count: Dismal Swamp State Park

A wonderful citizen science opportunity for butterfliers! We will meet at the park’s visitor’s center. Transportation within the park to various locations will be provided. Amenities at the park include public bathrooms and water fountains within the visitor’s center. The nearest major city with restaurants and lodging is Elizabeth City, about 20 miles from the park. Be sure to bring with you the necessities you require to have an enjoyable butterfly counting experience. It is recommended that you wear long pants, long sleeves, bring insect repellent, and wear sturdy shoes or hiking footwear. Paths within the park are grassy and fairly level. Once inside the park conducting the count access to amenities is limited. The $3 participation fee for a NABA Count is waived. Please register for this event so that Brian can keep you updated about changes due to weather or other circumstances.

Target species is the Hessel’s Hairstreak. Additional butterflies to be observed include: Palamedes Swallowtail (a new state record number was observed in 2017), Zebra Swallowtail, assorted skippers, hairstreaks, and more. Review the trip report of the 2017 count.

Brown Elfin Walk

We will meet in the parking lot area near the map bulletin board. Please wear sturdy shoes or footwear designed for hiking at the trail is gravel, inclined, and uneven. Bring with you any other necessities you may require for an enjoyable walk. Amenities at this park are composting toilets. There are numerous fast food restaurants within a mile of the park. If you wish to photograph the Brown Elfin be sure to have a zoom lens as the butterfly is quite flighty. If you have a macro lens you may be able to capture a good image if you are patient for a close-up. Additional sightings of anglewings and Juvenal’s Duskywing are possible. Note: Rain date or poor butterflying weather reschedule date is Thursday, March 29 @ 1-2 PM.