Beaufort Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Important Notes for Your Trip

In order to give you a place to obtain additional information about the trip sites, each site that can be found in CBC website, Jeff Mollenhauer's Falcon Guide, or Robin Carter's guide are marked in the trip descriptions as follows: CBC website, JM, RC. Also, the eBird website address is provided for the given location if is it an eBird hotspot.

• Just in case, bring your warm weather gear (sun screen, hats, light clothing, etc.) as it can be warm in Beaufort this time of year.
• Be sure to pack a lunch and snacks for the all-day trips and due to the tight schedules, you might want to pack a lunch for the half-day trips also. Each trip is noted as to availability of public restrooms.
• All field trips have a participation limit of 16. The Francis Beidler trip has a minimum requirement of five.
• All trips will leave from the hotel. If the trip leader is to meet you at the site, one person will be assigned as the guide to get you to the site. Site directions will be available at registration. If you plan to meet your trip at the site, be sure to let your trip leader know in advance.

Beaufort Meeting Field Trip Descriptions

Trips 1, 11, 19 & 29 — Hunting Island State Park: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

This island is over four miles of beach, thousands of acres of marsh, tidal creeks and maritime forest, a saltwater lagoon and ocean inlet. There is a long fishing pier on the south end of the island. The Hunting Island Lighthouse stands 132.5 feet tall, giving breathtaking views of the Lowcountry marshland, the slash pine/cabbage palmetto/live oak forest, and the Atlantic Ocean. Admission is $5/adult, $3.25 for SC seniors. Bring your state park pass if you have one. Some of the target birds are Painted Buntings, Piping Plovers, rails, tanagers, orioles, pelicans, oystercatchers, skimmers, terns, herons, and egrets.
Approximate travel time: 30 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available, at several locations.
Access conditions: This trip will involve light to moderate walking.

Trips 2, 12, 20, & 30 — Harbor Island: eBird hotspot

Nestled between St. Helena and Hunting Islands in Beaufort County, Harbor Island is a 1,400-acre private community on the Harbor River & Johnson Creek. Three small ponds on the island provide a roost for egrets and herons and there is a rather large rookery in the spring. The south side of the island is good for shore birds. Some of the target birds are plovers, oystercatchers, skimmers, wading birds, and terns.
Approximate travel time: 25–30 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to light walking.

Trip 3 — Combahee Unit—Interior/Woods, ACE Basin NWR: eBird hotspot

US FWS will provide on-site transportation through woods, old pecan groves, wetlands, beside old rice fields, and over canals. ACE is an acronym for Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The Combahee (pronounced Come-bee) will provide Wood Duck, Mallard, heron, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, ibis, Osprey, Wood Stork and Bald Eagles.
Approximate travel time: 35 minutes
Facilities: No restrooms.
Access conditions: Be prepared to climb in/out of the US FWS trailer.   Some light walking, on uneven surfaces.

Trip 32 — Combahee Unit—Interior/Woods, ACE Basin NWR: eBird hotspot

Over 2 miles of walking trails through woods, old pecan groves, wetlands, beside old rice fields, and over canals. ACE is an acronym for Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The Combahee (pronounced Come-bee) will provide Wood Duck, Mallard, heron, Great Egrets, Little Blue Herons, ibis, Osprey, Wood Stork and Bald Eagles.
Approximate travel time: 35 minutes
Facilities: No restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve moderate walking, on uneven surfaces.

Trip 14 — Combahee Unit—Riverside, ACE Basin NWR: eBird hotspot

US FWS will provide on-site transportation. You will ride over berms that separate old rice fields, canals, estuaries and the Combahee River. ACE is an acronym for Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The Combahee (pronounced Come-bee) will provide Wood Duck, Mallard, heron, ibis, Least Bittern, Little Blue Heron, Osprey, Wood Stork, nesting Bald Eagles and a Great Horned Owl nest.
Approximate travel time: 35 minutes
Facilities: No restrooms.
Access conditions: Be prepared to climb in/out of the US FWS trailer. The ride may be bumpy at times, due to the erosion on the berms from the October 2015 floods. Little shade is available and sun protection is recommended. Some light walking, on uneven surfaces.

Trip 21 — Combahee Unit—Riverside, ACE Basin NWR: eBird hotspot

2–3 miles of walking trails over berms that separate old rice fields, canals, estuaries and the Combahee River. ACE is an acronym for Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto Rivers. The Combahee (pronounced Come-bee) will provide Wood Duck, Mallard, heron, ibis, Least Bittern, Little Blue Heron, Osprey, Wood Stork, nesting Bald Eagles and a Great Horned Owl nest.
Approximate travel time: 35 minutes
Facilities: No restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve moderate walking, on uneven surfaces. Little shade is provided and sun protection is recommended.

Trips 4, 9, & 27 — Savannah NWR: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Half Day Trips—Savannah NWR consists of over 29,000 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks and bottomland hardwoods. The refuge provides nesting areas for Wood Ducks, Great Horned Owls, Bald Eagles, Osprey and Swallow-tailed Kites among others. The kites and storks will probably be gone by the end of September. As many as 13 species of duck either live in or migrate through this refuge. Other bird types found here include coots, moorhens, Purple Gallinules, Soras, egrets, herons, and shorebirds along with other migrating bird species. This trip basically covers the 5 mile driving tour (Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive) with multiple stops.
Approximate travel time: 50 minutes
Facilities: Porta-potty on Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive. Restrooms are only available at the Visitor Center, which is 4 miles away.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to light walking. Carpooling is recommended

Trip 22 — Savannah NWR: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Very similar to the above Savannah NWR trips, except US FWS will provide onsite transportation. Also, US FWS will take the group to additional places not normally open to public vehicles.
Approximate travel time: 50 minutes
Access conditions: Be prepared to climb in/out of the US FWS vehicle, whether a trailer or a wagon.

Trips 18 & 35 — Savannah NWR: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Full Day Trips—This is the same trip as the above half-day trips except you will have time to take in some of the walking trails. This will allow a chance to get more of those migrants passing through.
Approximate travel time: 50 minutes
Facilities: Porta-potty on Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive. Restrooms are only available at the Visitor Center, which is 4 miles away.
Access conditions: This trip will involve moderate to heavy walking.

Trips 5, 13, & 31 — Beaufort & Vicinity: eBird hotspot and eBird hotspot

Port Royal Boardwalk Park (CBC website, JM), Broad River (JM), Chechessee River Estuaries (RC), Cypress Wetlands, and Widgeon Point Preserve. Port Royal Boardwalk is 0.2 miles long. It runs through salt-marsh and mud flats and has a tall observation platform. West of Beaufort there is a series of broad tidal estuaries interspersed with salt marshes. Two of these, the Broad and Chechessee Rivers are easily birded from dry land. Some of the target birds are ducks, rails, ibis, gulls, terns, shore birds, herons, egrets, and migrants.
Approximate travel time: 10 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to moderate walking.

Trip 23 — Beginning Birders (Beaufort & Vicinity): eBird hotspot and eBird hotspot

The areas covered will be very similar to the Beaufort & Vicinity tour (above). Binocular basics will be presented. The basics of finding birds and how to identify birds will be covered. Also, instruction on using a field guide will be provided. Common birds will be emphasized.
Approximate travel time: 10 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to moderate walking.

Trips 26 & 28 — Donnelley WMA: CBC website, JM, eBird hotspot

Donnelley WMA is 8,000 acres of unique property which is a cross section of the Lowcountry and encompasses a diversity of wetland and upland habitats including: managed rice fields, forested wetland, tidal marsh, agricultural lands and a variety of upland types, including a natural stand of longleaf pine. Some of the target birds here are Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Anhinga, coot, Purple Gallinule, Sora, herons & egrets. Insect repellent is advisable. This is the only day during this meeting that Donnelley is open to birding.
Approximate travel time: 40 minutes
Facilities: Restroom in the Check Station.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to moderate walking.

Trips 17 & 34 — Pinckney Island NWR & Hilton Head: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Pinckney Island NWR is a 4,000 acre refuge that was once an early 19th century plantation. The island consists of salt marsh, forestland, brushland, fallow field and freshwater ponds. The great diversity of habitat makes for some great birding. Some of the target birds are waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, raptors, migrants and large concentrations of White Ibis, herons, and egrets. Fish Haul Creek Park is a good place to find shorebirds and terns. The target birds for the 0.3 mile boardwalk are Clapper Rail and Seaside Sparrow.
Approximate travel time: 45–50 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve moderate walking.

Trip 8 & 10 — Bear Island: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Bear Island is a combination of old rice fields and marsh and provides some of the best birding in South Carolina. Some of the target birds are Bald Eagle, Mottled Duck, King Rail, herons, egrets, and shorebirds. If the water levels are low the shorebirds can be in large numbers. This is the only day during this meeting that Bear Island is open to birding.
Approximate travel time: 50 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve easy to moderate walking.

Trips 15 — Bear Island & road to Bennett's Point: CBC website, JM, RC, eBird hotspot

Bear Island is a combination of old rice fields and marsh and provides some of the best birding in South Carolina. Some of the target birds are Bald Eagle, Mottled Duck, King Rail, herons, egrets, and shorebirds. If the water levels are low the shorebirds can be in large numbers. On the drive to Bennett's Point, look for Clapper Rails, Gull-billed, Least and Royal Terns plus Black Skimmers.
Approximate travel time: 50 minutes
Facilities: No Restrooms.
Access conditions: This trip will involve moderate walking.

Trips 6 & 24 — Fripp Island: eBird hotspot

Fripp Island is a gated island and is adjacent to Hunting Island. Pied-billed Grebe, Wood Storks, herons, egrets, ibis, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawks, Caspian & Common Terns, Black Skimmers, and eight warbler species have been seen late September and early October. This is the first time the club has been granted access to Fripp. The Fripp Island Naturalist, Jessica Miller, will be a tour leader. A 1-hour boat trip to Little Caper's Island and Bull Point is available, for $26 each. If 16 people sign up, the cost will be reduced to $20 each. These rates apply for individual payment methods. (Group payment is not required.)
Approximate travel time: 45 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available.
Access conditions: A guard and gate at the island entrance. A 1-hour boat trip is available at $26 (or less) per person.

Trips 7 & 25 — Caw Caw Nature and History Interpretive Center: eBird hotspot

Located near Ravenel, this Charleston County Park is situated on land that was once historic rice plantations. The park consists of 1,000 acres of diverse coastal habitats including cypress–tupelo swamps, a tidal saltmarsh, freshwater and brackish water impoundments (old rice culture), and upland and bottomland forests. The property is accessed by six miles of trails and offers easy and quality birding. Over 250 species of birds have been documented in the park, and we hope to find marsh wading birds, rails, owls, vireos, wrens, migrant warblers, and others.
Approximate travel time: 60 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available.
Access conditions: $10/person donation to the park is recommended. This trip will involve easy to moderate walking.

Trips 16 & 33 — The Audubon Center at Francis Beidler Forest: CBC website eBird hotspot

This Audubon sanctuary contains a portion of what is considered the largest remaining old-growth cypress–tupelo swamp in the world, known as Four Holes Swamp. Participants will experience the majestic wonder of this swampland along the NEW 1.75-mile boardwalk. Birds we hope to find include Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and other wading birds including Wood Stork, a variety of woodpeckers, and migrating songbirds. Audubon's Matt Johnson will be the tour leader.
Approximate Travel Time: 90 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available.
Access conditions: $10/person fee, with 5 people as the required minimum. If insufficient sign-up for Saturday, that group will be moved into Friday. This trip involves easy walking on a Brazilian wood boardwalk. Participants should be prepared for possible mosquitoes by wearing appropriate clothing and bringing insect repellent.

Trips 37 & 38 — Nemours Plantation

Nemours Foundation will provide on-site transportation and a tour guide (their Biologist) this new & exciting tour. Eugene I. DuPont, III and his family established this 10,000 acre foundation in 1995. Nemours Plantation is located on the Harbor River, on the southeast side of US Hwy. 17. Nemours contains a rich diversity of habitats including remnant rice fields, fresh & brackish water marshes, upland pine and hardwood forests, bottomland hardwoods and cypress/tupelo forests.
Approximate Travel Time: 35 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available.
Access conditions: Light to moderate walking. Nemours Foundation will provide 2 pick-up trucks for transportation. Be prepared to climb into and out of high bed trucks. Participants should be prepared for possible mosquitoes and lots of sunshine, by wearing appropriate clothing, bringing insect repellent and sun screen.

Trip 39 — Hunting Island S.P. Lagoon Kayak Tour: eBird hotspot

Beaufort Kayak Tours has two (2) Master Naturalist to lead this 2 1/2 hour tour of the lagoon & estuaries near Hunting Island State Park. Paddling will be easy and impact of the 4:14pm low tide will be minimized. Barrier island geology will be discussed and a cast net demonstration will be given. Paddles, PFD and single & tandem kayaks will be provided. Their website: beaufortkayaktours.com About expenses: First, Hunting Beach S.P. charges $5/person entrance fee (or $3.25 senior), if you don't have an annual pass. Second, if you pay the outfitter individually, the cost is $50 each. If everyone pays as one group (with one credit card or by cash), the rate drops to $40 each. A good savings! Bringing cash might be the best way for everyone to get the better $40 price.
Approximate Travel Time: 35 minutes
Facilities: Restrooms available.
Access conditions: Shoes, clothing and even you, might get wet. Sun protection and bug protection is recommended. Dress appropriately. and leave electronics and valuables on land. A pair of gloves may be helpful for blister prevention.

Trip 40 — eBird Seminar

This "trip" is actually a seminar and will be located in a banquet room at the Quality Inn at Town Center. This seminar will explain the many features, functions and accessability of this free, on-line checklist program. eBird has revolutionized the way the birding community reports and accesses information about birds and where to find birds. It was launched in 2002 by Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. eBird has provided a PowerPoint slide presentation for this seminar. CBC's Mike McCloy is very excited about this seminar/presentation. For many of us, eBird has changed the way we bird.
Approximate Travel Time: 1-2 minutes walking
Facilities: Air-conditioning, padded chairs, restrooms, electricity, lights and projector.
Access conditions: No bug spray, nor sun screen needed.

Trip 41 — Native Plants Seminar

This "trip" is also a seminar and will be located at the Quality Inn at Town Center. North Carolina Audubon has launched a Native Plants campaign to educate & promote attractive and non-invasive plants. S.C. Audubon is also working to develop a similar movement. This seminar will tell you about native plants and which one you might utilize in your backyard to bring in more birds.
Approximate Travel Time: 1-2 minutes walking
Facilities: A hotel meeting room will be utilized. Brief outdoor visits may be included.
Access conditions: No bug spray, nor sun screen needed.