Tag Archives: Walk Difficulty: Moderate

Canceled – Brunswick County / Green Swamp — Saturday

Meet up will be at the intersection of Yarborough St SW & Ocean Isle Beach Rd SW located in Shallotte, NC. Map coordinates are provided to help you navigate to this location. Please click on the images provided to assist you with locating this site. A link to a Google Map of the location is provided below under Venue. Map coordinates are: 33.91954°N,-78.44591°E (dd.ddddd° format); 33°55.172’N, 78°26.755’W (dd°mm.mmm’ format); 33°55’10.3″N, 78°26’45.3″W (dd°mm’ss.s” format)

After arrival we will check the chinquapins for Oak Hairstreaks, then continue to the Green Swamp Preserve.

There are no public facilities or amenities at either location that will be visited during this walk. Please bring with you any beverages, snack, or food that you will require for an enjoyable experience. It is recommended that you use good bug spray, wear long sleeves and pants, sturdy or hiking shoes.

The nearest town of Supply, NC located about 10 miles away from the Green Swamp Preserve has assorted fast food restaurants. The nearest town for lodging is about 30 miles away in Wilmington, NC. Participants are responsible for their own transportation, meals, and lodging costs.

Anne Springs Close Greenway / Elon Park

Meet at 10:00am at the Lake Haigler parking lot on Colharp Rd on the east side of the Highway 21 Bypass. Please download the trail map PDF to locate bathrooms and other public facilities.

We will start the day walking around the edge of Lake Haigler searching for the Byssus Skipper on the Buttonbush that grow around the lake.

After we are done at Anne Springs Close Greenway we will head to Elon Park about 15 minutes away located at: 11401 Ardrey Kell Rd Charlotte, NC 28277

At this location we will again search for Byssus Skipper which has not yet been seen in Mecklenburg County.

You can bring a picnic lunch and eat at one of the picnic tables at Anne Springs or stop for lunch at one of the restaurants on the way to Elon Park. The park has public restrooms.

Bring good bug spray, hats, long sleeves, sun block, binoculars, camera, sturdy shoes, and any other items you may need to have an enjoyable experience.

Francis Marion NF Weekend – Sunday

Members are to provide their own transportation, meals, and lodging. Members are responsible for paying for all costs associated with this field trip.

We will meet at the US Forest Visitor’s Center. There are no facilities at this location. You will need to bring lunch, water, bug spray, guide books, binoculars, camera, and any other items you will need to have a pleasant butterflying experience. It is recommended that your wear long sleeves, pants, hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Biting insects in some locations can be impressive. Path conditions are flat and sandy. It is recommended you wear sturdy shoes or hiking footwear. We will be mainly driving and stopping along dirt forest service roads, all walking will be easy on level dirt, gravel roads.

We will visit a number of locations depending on butterflying conditions. The nearest rest rooms are in Cainhoy about 15 mi away and Huger Campgrounds 4 mi above Huger. Note: Huger is pronounced U-Gee by the locals.

Lodging accommodates can be found in the towns of N Charleston (40 mi), Mt Pleasant (30 mi), Charleston and Georgetown (25 mi). Some suggested dining options include See Wee Restaurant in Awendaw; T.W. Graham & Co. Seafood Restaurant, Buckshots, and McClellanville Diner in McClellanville.

Target species include but are not restricted to: Palamedes Swallowtail. King’s Hairstreak, Little Metalmark, Intricate Satyr, Georgia Satyr, White Checkered-Skipper, Tropical Checkered-Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Byssus Skipper, Yehl Skipper, Rare Skipper, Broad-winged Skipper, Duke’s Skipper, Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper, and Reversed Roadside-Skipper.

Francis Marion NF Weekend – Saturday

Members are to provide their own transportation, meals, and lodging. Members are responsible for paying for travel costs associated with this field trip.

We will meet in the parking lot of the Santee Delta WMA -East. Please see the images below to help you find this obscure location. There isn’t an actual street address for you to use, but there are coordinates that can be plugged into Google maps or a GPS device: 33°12’17.0″N, 79°23’16.1″W (format: dd° mm’ ss.s”) or 33.204728, -79.387817 (format: dd.ddddd°)

Hover over the images with your mouse to read a description of the image. The East parking lot is along the northbound lanes of Hwy 17. The West parking lot is on the southbound lanes. There is an unofficial left turn into the East parking lot from the southbound lanes.

satellite image of parking lot

There are no facilities at this location. You will need to bring lunch, water, bug spray, guide books, binoculars, camera, and any other items you will need to have a pleasant butterflying experience. It is recommended that your wear long sleeves, pants, hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Biting insects in some locations can be impressive. Path conditions are flat and sandy. It is recommended you wear sturdy shoes or hiking footwear.

We will visit a number of locations depending on butterflying conditions. The nearest convenience stores in McClellanville, about 10 miles from Santee Delta East WMA, 6 mi from Santee Coastal Reserve and 6 mi from Mills Branch in the Francis Marion NF. Lodging accommodates can be found in the towns of N Charleston (40 mi), Mt Pleasant (30 mi), Charleston and Georgetown (25 mi).

Some suggested dining options include See Wee Restaurant in Awendaw; T.W. Graham & Co. Seafood Restaurant, Buckshots, and McClellanville Diner in McClellanville.

Target species include but are not restricted to: Palamedes Swallowtail. King’s Hairstreak, Little Metalmark, Intricate Satyr, Georgia Satyr, White Checkered-Skipper, Tropical Checkered-Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Byssus Skipper, Yehl Skipper, Rare Skipper, Broad-winged Skipper, Duke’s Skipper, Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper, and Reversed Roadside-Skipper.

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve

We will meet up at the Nature Center. Walking conditions will be moderate with some walking in tall grass with some briars. Long pants and sturdy boots are recommended. Bring snacks, water and lunch if needed. There are restrooms and picnic tables on site. Gas stations and restaurants are located within 10 miles of the Preserve. It is recommended you bring good bug spray, hats, sun block, binoculars, camera, and any other items you may require for an enjoyable experience. This is usually not an all day event but if the weather is good and the butterflies are out in numbers we may check some other areas. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Target species is the Dusted Skipper.

Carolina Sandhills NWR / Cheraw SP

Meet up will be at the visitor’s center. There is a restroom facility at Lake Bee in Sandhills NWR but we will not visit it until lunch so please plan accordingly. Gas stations and limited restaurant choices are available in McBee, SC, about 4 miles from the Refuge entrance. The nearest town with full services is Hartsville, SC. It is recommended that you pack a lunch and snacks and bring water. Walking conditions are generally easy except for the Lake Bee section which can be difficult depending on water levels. Bring good bug spray, hats, sun block, binoculars, and camera. Wear long sleeves, plants, and sturdy shoes, and any additional items you might need to have a pleasurable experience. Please refer to the Refuge’s website FAQs for additional information about visiting the facility. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Target species is Hessel’s Hairstreak.

Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve

We will meet in the parking lot. The trails are mostly sand with some rocky areas and hills. Please wear appropriate footwear such as sturdy or hiking shoes. Gas stations and restaurants are within a couple of miles from the Preserve. It is recommended you bring water, lunch or snacks, camera, binoculars, field guides, and any other items you may require to have an enjoyable experience. Wearing long pants, sunscreen, hat is advised. Use of bug spray may be needed. Please note that there are no amenities at this location such as a public restroom or water fountain.

Target species is the Brown Elfin.

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.