Gene Schepker would like to lead a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway specifically to find the rare Two-spotted Skipper. There should be lots of other butterflies as well.
Contact Gene for additional information.
We will meet at the Music Center parking lot near the office at 10:00 AM and hunt butterflies until at least mid-afternoon. The terrain is mostly level on bottom ground and is fairly easy walking. If you want to join us, please email your cell phone number to Gene. He will watch the weather and keep in touch as the date approaches.
Bathrooms, water and some food is available at the Center.
We will look for wetland skippers and southern strays mainly at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday and the Tillman Sandridge Heritage Preserve and Becks Ferry Landing on Sunday.
SATURDAY WALK CANCELLED – Due to a lack of nectar and butterflies, the Saturday walk has been cancelled! Saturday, August 24, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM – Meet at the Savannah NWR Visitor Center located at 694 Beech Hill Ln, off Highway 17 (Speedway Boulevard) to the South of Hardeeville, South Carolina. GPS coordinates for the visitor center are 32.172766, -81.076097.
Sunday, August 25, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM – Meet at the Exxon Station just north of the junction of US Highway 321 (Cotton Hill Road) and SC Highway 336 (Tillman Road). GPS coordinates for the Exxon station are 32.463760, -81.107259.
There are restroom at the refuge and the Exxon Station. Walks will be along level sand and paved roads. Bring lunch, field guide, binoculars, water, sun screen, insect repellent, etc. Dennis Forsythe will lead.
Meet at the visitor center which has restroom facilities. We will divide into smaller groups. Some will have longer areas to walk. Some trails will have roots and may be overgrown. There are no restaurants nearby. Contact David Shelley if you are able to help with this important count. You do not have to be an expert to help and may come for a whole or half day.
We will meet at 9:00 AM at the Visitor Center, 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, South Carolina, and will cover areas not generally open to the public. The Visitor Center is on the dirt road portion of Silver Bluff Road so keep going after the pavement ends. We will butterfly both in the morning and the afternoon. The restrooms at the center will be open at the beginning of the count and at lunch.
This property is owned by the Columbia Audubon Society and is located 3.5 miles east of St. Matthews, South Carolina on SC 6. It is not open to the general public. There is a pavilion and bathroom on site. The target species is the second brood of the Harvester. Caroline Eastman, the “original” organizer, is not be able to attend so Marty and Dave Kastner will lead this walk..
On Sunday we will go to Cataloochee Valley, part of GSMNP. Another gorgeous area with plenty of areas that yield butterflies. Targets are American Copper and Diana Fritillary. There will be lots of Ironweed with skippers. Elk and bear sightings are very possible.
The meeting place will againbe the Pilot Station just north on Hwy. 209, exit 24 off I-40 west. The nearest town is Waynesville, NC. A motel near Hwy. 276 (Jonathan Creek Rd) intersection with Hwy. 19 (Dellwood Rd) would be convenient. There is also a Days Inn and a Quality Inn off I-40 at Canton, not too far east of the Pilot Station. Going into Waynesville on Hwy. 74 are many hotels, plus several on Hwy. 19 around Lake Junaluska. We will also carpool from Asheville, exit 44, to the Pilot Station for those choosing to stay there, as exit 44 has many hotels and restaurants.
Bring lunch, snacks, water, binoculars, camera and field guide.
There is no rain date for the weekend, but if at least one of the days is to be dry and sunny, we will butterfly that day. So if you plan to come, watch the weather forecast closely.
On Saturday we will spend the day in the Harmon Den/Max Patch area north of I-40. The meeting place will be the Pilot Station just north on Hwy. 209, exit 24 off I-40 west. The nearest town is Waynesville, NC. A motel near Hwy. 276 (Jonathan Creek Rd) intersection with Hwy. 19 (Dellwood Rd) would be convenient. There is also a Days Inn and a Quality Inn off I-40 at Canton, not too far east of the Pilot Station. Going into Waynesville on Hwy. 74 are many hotels, plus several on Hwy. 19 around Lake Junaluska. We will also carpool from Asheville, exit 44, to the Pilot Station for those choosing to stay there, as exit 44 has many hotels and restaurants.
There is no rain date for the weekend, but if at least Saturday or Sunday is to be dry and sunny, we will butterfly that day. So if you plan to come, watch the weather forecast closely.
