Tag Archives: South Carolina

CANCELLED – Parris Island, South Carolina

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have been informed by our contact at Parris Island that, “It has been extremely difficult to get non-DOD affiliated personnel on the Depot, especially Friday-Sunday.” Consequently, this walk has been CANCELLED. The invitation to visit Parris Island is still open and we intend to include it in the planning schedule for 2021.

This is a very rare opportunity to butterfly on Parris Island.

The walk will be LIMITED TO THE FIRST 12 PEOPLE who sign up by September 12 either on the CBS website or by contacting Marty Kastner at [email protected]. When you register, you will need to provide your FULL NAME, DATE OF BIRTH and SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER. This information will be given to John Holloway (our trip leader and the natural resources person for Parris Island) which he will submit to Parris Island base security for the purpose of vetting all attendees. Dennis Forsythe is the organizer for this walk.

We will meet at the Parris Island Gateway entrance just south of US Highway 21 at Malecon Drive. Once through the main gate, we will pull over to caravan. The GPS coordinates for the front entry gate are 32.375001, -80.716649.

Long pants, sturdy shoes and a hat are recommended. Please bring sunscreen, insect repellent, water and lunch. Binoculars, a camera (for the photographers in the group) and field guide will be helpful for butterfly identification.

+ GOOGLE CALENDAR+ ICAL EXPORT

CANCELLED – Hampton Park and Charles Towne Landing

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, these walks have been CANCELLED. 

Both of these locations are in the Charleston, South Carolina area. The entrance fee for Charles Towne Landing is $7.50 for adults and $3.75 for SC senior citizens ages 65+. The location to meet and additional information will be provided as it becomes available. Dennis Forsythe will lead.  [email protected]

CANCELLED – SI Group Hundred Acre Woods

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the SI Group is currently not allowing any groups to visit their Hundred Acre Woods habitat conservation and management area.  Consequently, this walk has been CANCELLED. 

The target species is the Goatweed Leafwing and other fall butterflies. There is a porta potty on site. The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown.

The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115. Come in the second entrance after crossing the railroad tracks coming from Hwy. 301. Look to your right and go towards the tree line. We will line our cars up near the tree line. After everyone has arrived, Arthur Sweatman from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars to the Hundred Acre Woods. Restaurants and gas stations are nearby.  Marty Kastner is our trip organizer; please contact Marty if you are coming. [email protected]

Limited NABA Count – Congaree National Park

Due to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak, this NABA count will be a “by invitation only” event. Each group will be limited to one or two persons who have been specifically asked to attend.  We are sorry for the inconvenience and hope to see you for the counts next year.

CANCELLED – Meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center where 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 can help with this important count.  You do not have to be an expert to help and may come for a whole or half day.

Edisto Island including Roxbury Park and the Hutchinson House

Note that this trip is scheduled for Sunday (instead of the normal Saturday). Our target species will be the Great Southern White.

The Midlands Chapter of the Carolina Butterfly Society will hold a walk on Edisto Island on Sunday, August 30.  Due to Covid-19, social distancing will be practiced.  Please have a mask at hand for necessary times that may arise.  Please note that we are not going to Botany Bay as previously planned due to the large crowds that visit there.  Tom Austin will lead.  Contact him if you plan to attend.  [email protected]

We will meet at Roxbury Park at 10:00am in the parking lot. (There is a portalet in the parking lot.) Traffic should be low and social distancing shouldn’t be an issue. We’ll spend the morning at Roxbury before heading to the Hutchinson House after lunch. We’ll roam the trails there until we disband. We should be the only ones on the Hutchinson House property. (There is a portalet behind the house.)

Address for Roxbury Park is: 4494 Hwy-174, Meggett, SC

Address for the Hutchinson House is: 7666 Point of Pines Rd, Edisto Island, SC

Hutchinson House, which is now owned by Edisto Island Open Land Trust, is a freedman house constructed circa 1885 by a former slave. Efforts are in place to restore the home and grounds.

CANCELLED – Gum Swamp Road

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, this walk has been CANCELLED. 

This is in Jackson, South Carolina near Aiken.  Our target species are Texan Crescent and Tawny and Hackberry Emperors. We will meet at the Kathwood Lakes parking area of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary.  We will leave some cars at this location and consolidate the number of vehicles.  Kathwood Lakes is just before the dirt road portion of Silver Bluff Road and approximately 200 yards after crossing the railroad tracks coming south on Silver Bluff Road.  Kathwood Lakes is the name Google Maps uses for the bodies of water at this location.  The GPS coordinates are 33.337279, -81.843453.  If you are coming from the north Beech Island is the nearest place with bathrooms, places to eat and gas stations.  If coming from the south, Jackson is the nearest place for these items.  If coming from the east down Silver Bluff Road, SC 302, Aiken will be the last town on your way.  Jackson will be to your south on SC 125 if you need to stop just prior to the meeting spot.  John Demko will lead.  [email protected]

Wannamaker Nature Preserve

This is a joint walk with SCAN (South Carolina Association of Naturalists) and, as of 6/10/20, they still intend on meeting and exploring.  Wannamaker is owned by the Columbia Audubon Society and is located 3.5 miles east of St. Matthews on SC 6.  It is not open to the general public.  There is a pavilion and bathroom on site.  Dave Schuetrum of SCAN will be the leader.  [email protected]

GPS Coordinates: 33.636649, -80.706006

CANCELLED – Sumter National Forest, Enoree District

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, this walk has been CANCELLED. We will explore areas of the Sumter National Forest.  Meet in the parking lot of the Piggly Wiggly in Whitmire.  The address is 26490 SC-121, Whitmire, SC 29170.  GPS is 34.507138, -81.601602.  Dennis Forsythe will be our leader.  [email protected]

CANCELLED – Carolina Sandhills NWR, Cheraw SP and Horseshoe Mountain

CANCELLED

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and out of an abundance of caution, this walk has been CANCELLED. A group use permit is required for us to visit the Carolina Sandhills NWR and, based on Governor McMaster’s state of emergency proclamation, said permit has been withheld by the issuing authority.

All of these locations are in Chesterfield County.  We will go to as many of these areas as we have time for.  Our target species are all elfins and Hessel’s Hairstreak.  The leader for this trip is still to be determined.  More information will be provided as details become available.