Santee Field Trip Descriptions

Click ==> Map of meeting and field trip locations

Fall Meeting Field Trip Descriptions

Trips 1,4,9,15

Santee National Wildlife Refuge/Bluff Unit: Situated on the north shore of Lake Marion, opposite the town of Santee, this NWR has about 71,000 acres of open water and marsh and about 3,000 acres of uplands. Vast open fields are managed primarily for wintering waterfowl. Wright's Bluff Wildlife Trail, with a short boardwalk, also includes a high observation deck which offers sweeping vistas. Raptors, including Barred Owls and Bald Eagles, are here year-around, as are numerous Wood Ducks. The Bluff Unit is especially good for migrating shorebirds and passerines. Top Ten SC Birding Hotspot!

Trip 19

Santee National Wildlife/Cuddo Unit, Dingle Pond, Pine Island Units: This area is more inaccessible and much less popular than Bluff (above), but usually has the best birding on the refuge. Dingle Pond is a Carolina Bay (pocosin) which is filled with water throughout the year, and swampy woodlands and upland pines are elsewhere. Migrating shorebirds, warblers and other songbirds should be present. Expect to do some walking, but the pay-off is great. Along with the above, a Top Ten SC Birding Hotspot!

Trips 6, 18

Congaree National Park: This relatively new park on the north side of the Congaree River downstream from Columbia protects 22,000 acres of giant bottomland hardwoods, a significant floodplain, and upland pine forests. According to the National Park Service, this is "the largest remnant of old-growth floodplain forest remaining on the continent." Congaree Swamp is an International Biosphere Reserve and a Globally Important Bird Area. You may see any bird species associated with these pristine habitats, notables being Yellow-crowned Night Heron and possible lingering Prothonotary and Swainson's Warbler. Another Top Ten SC Birding Hotspot!

Trip 10

Santee State Park: This 2,400 acre state park on the south side of Lake Marion features a fishing pier with a sweeping view of the lake, from which you may see gulls, wading birds, Anhingas, Osprey and Bald Eagles. All species of woodpeckers found in South Carolina are in the park, along with many owls. A 1.5 mile trail from the picnic grounds leads through typical southern mixed hardwoods, with attendant bird species possible. Fall is the best season for birding here, since many migrating warblers are present.

Trips 2, 12

Beidler Forest Audubon Sanctuary: The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon teamed to preserve nearly 13,000 acres of bald cypress-tupelo in Four Holes Swamp. The magnificent old-growth forest there is accessed by a 1.75-mile boardwalk into the heart of this ancient swamp. Expect birds of the deep woods, especially migrating warblers.

Trip 8

Elliott's Landing Vicinity: This trip is cancelled.

Trips 3,5,11,16

Orangeburg Sod Farm: Arguably the best inland location in the state for migrating shorebirds like Pectoral and Least Sandpiper, and maybe even a rarity like American Golden-plover in late September! These trips are expected to fill quickly; and it is first come, first served for the 15 places on each outing.

Trip 17

Woods Bay State Natural Area: This 1,500-acre state property embraces one of the most spectacular and least disturbed Carolina Bays on the coastal plain between Delaware and north Florida. A half-mile trail winds around an old millpond before leading into the bay itself via a quarter-mile boardwalk through an outstanding bald cypress-tupelo forest.

Another half-hour walk along an unmarked, but easily followed, trail leads into very different ecosystems: mature oak-hickory woods and a pine plantation surrounded by birdy brush and briars. Warblers and sparrows are abundant, especially in fall.

Trip 7

Old Santee Canal Park: Built between 1793 and 1800, the Old Santee Canal connected the Santee and Cooper Rivers, a distance of 22 miles, and operated for 50 years until shut down by drought and burgeoning railroad transportation. There are three miles of trail and boardwalks along canal banks, woods and the swamps of Biggin Creek; open fields and live oak areas surround the parking lot. Consequently, look for wading birds, osprey, lingering Painted Buntings, as well as migrating warblers and sparrows. There is a $2 per person charge at the park.

Trip 20

ACE Basin NWR/Bear Island WMA: Although this excursion involves a 1.5-hour drive each way, the pay-off is well worth it! Bear Island provides some of the most exciting birding in the state, year-around. It is always good for Bald Eagles, Great Horned Owls, Wood Storks, ibises, herons and marsh birds; it can be good for shorebirds in spring and fall. Hundreds of Mottled Ducks are residents, and thirteen Roseate Spoonbills were on Mary's Pond last September. It seems that almost anything is possible! A Top Ten SC Birding Spot!

Trip 13

Congaree Bluffs Heritage Preserve: These bluffs rise some 200 feet above the river, you have a dramatic view of the old growth forest canopy below. This is a good place to see soaring birds - Anhingas, Wood Storks, migrating raptors and more - often flying below you. On the bluffs look for species associated with open Long-leaf Pine forest.

Trip 14

Congaree River Bottomlands: Along the Old State Road which ran from Charleston to Asheville, and north to the Congaree River, is one of the best places in central SC for birds. In late September there should be numerous migrating raptors, sparrows and warblers. (This trip has been cancelled, due to a bridge out.)

Trip 21

Edisto Gardens/Fish Hatchery/The Oaks Methodist Home grounds