The first walk for the CBS Midlands Chapter will be on April 3. We will visit Cheraw State Park and Horseshoe Mountain. Due to a recent controlled burn and lack of nectar, we will NOT explore Carolina Sandhills NWR; we will only meet there in the parking lot at 10:00 (which, due to the expected cool temperature, is later than the original time of 9:30 ). 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. We will caravan to Cheraw SP and then to Horseshoe Mountain.
Please note that masks and social distancing are mandated on all federal lands (Sandhills) and masks are only required in areas where people congregate at Cheraw SP. If you want to explore the Carolina Sandhills NWR, a youth turkey hunt is taking place on this date and our permit limits us to either side of Wildlife Drive from Hwy 1 to RT 9. Please bring an orange hat or vest to wear in the NWR other than the parking lot.
Please note that the area at Cheraw SP is not a trail and we will be walking on uneven ground covered with pine needles and some vegetation. Also, at Horseshoe Mountain there is a walk with some steps to get up to the top. The high temperature is only supposed to be 59 on Saturday, but we did see butterflies while scouting when it was only 55 degrees. It is supposed to be sunny.
As before we will practice social distancing as much as possible during the walk. Be sure to bring your mask since the area will be more crowded on a holiday weekend. Bathrooms are available at Horseshoe Mountain.
The target species are Henry’s Elfin, Brown Elfin, Frosted Elfin and Hessel’s Hairstreak. Please bring your binoculars, camera, field guides, lunch, snacks and water. We will end around 3:00. Marty and Dave Kastner will lead the walk. Please sign up on the CBS website or contact Marty and Dave if you plan to attend. [email protected]
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
We will visit Peachtree Rock Heritage Preserve and Shealy’s Pond Heritage Preserve if time permits. . Meet in the parking lot at Peachtree to look for the colony of Brown Elfins and other early butterflies. The address is 883 Peachtree Rock Road, Lexington, SC 29073. There are no facilities at this site, but gas stations and restaurants are nearby.
If the weather is too cold or rainy, we will move this trip to March 9
We will start at the Latta Plantation Nature Center and walk around the Latta Prairie section of the park. Keep in mind this walk is in August and temperatures can be hot. We will be walking on hard surface horse trails for the most part with a couple large hills. We will eat lunch at the picnic tables at the Nature Center and then drive to Cowan’s Ford Nature Preserve where we will finish the day.
Bring Lunch, Snacks, WATER, WATER, WATER . There are Restrooms and picnic tables on site. Restaurants are not nearby so plan accordingly .
Bring Good bug spray for Ticks and Chiggers, hats, long sleeves, SUN BLOCK, binoculars, camera, and sturdy shoes. Field Guides, etc.
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 [email protected] 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.
