Clemson Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions
Click ==> Map of meeting and field trip locations
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Spring Meeting Field Trip Descriptions
Saturday full-day trips will depart from the Ramada Inn's front parking lot. All others leave from the back parking lot.
The Stecoah Gap bonus trip meets at Stecoah Gap in North Carolina. Please note that the distance from Clemson to Stecoah Gap is about 140 miles, or 2.5 hours of driving time. Participants on field trips are encouraged to carpool as much as possible. Not only does this reduce fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions, from a logistical perspective it is easier to keep fewer numbers of cars together, and easier to park once you arrive at the birding site(s). And who knows, you might meet your next best friend by joining a carload of birders with whom you have not become acquainted! If you have room for riders, or would like to ride in another car, please inform your field trip leader when gathering to prepare for departure. Please note that it is customary to share fuel expenses among carpool participants. Many field trips are to locations with restrooms facilities and these are noted in the field trip descriptions. On trips to areas without facilities, an effort will be made to stop at a nearby fast food restaurant or service station to allow for comfort breaks. Half day trips are timed to allow for lunch on your own, and return in time for the evening social events. Full day trip participants are encouraged to bring their own lunch, water, and snacks. In some cases a stop at a local restaurant is planned, and this is noted in the trip description if applicable. In order to avoid disappointment, early sign-up for field trips is advised as some trips have limits to the numbers of participants. Information on trips that are full, or changes to times or trip descriptions will be made on the CBC website: www.carolinabirdclub.org- Trips 1 and 7: Lake Conestee Nature Park
- This site has come onto the radar within the last few years and is a premier birding location in the Piedmont of South Carolina. Due to the great variety of habitats, expect a wide variety of sightings from shorebirds, waders and marsh birds to lingering waterfowl, woodland and woodland edge birds, raptors and more. The leader is largely responsible for putting the place on the birding map. Not difficult, but a lot of walking. Lunch at Reedy River Smokehouse & Grill.
- Trip 2: Hogback Mountain/Blue Wall Heritage Preserve
- Hogback Mountain is the 3240' massif not far from I-26, near Landrum-Tryon. Like Conestee Nature Park, it too is a lesser-known, but significant birding location. The twin ponds at the foot of the mountain may attract lingering waterfowl, while the mature oak-hickory, cove hardwood and hemlock-rhododendron forest hosts a great number of woodland birds. Pileated Woodpecker, Scarlet Tanager, migrant flycatchers and thrushes, up to five vireo species and 33 types of warblers use the area. Swainson's Warbler is to be expected, Common Raven and Ruffed Grouse are possible. The site is more than 1-hour's drive from the host hotel. Expect moderately-difficult walking, no restrooms, bring lunch.
- Trip 3: Caesar's Head State Park
- Caesar's Head, at 3266', is perhaps the crown jewel of South Carolina's seven mountain parks. The panoramic view of the Carolina and Georgia mountains is stunning. Participants at the 21st annual hawkwatch held here last fall sighted over 14,000 raptors of 15 species. While spring migration is not as pronounced as fall, we'll look for raptors and for the Peregrine Falcons and Common Ravens that are present year around. Dark-eyed Junco and Ruffed Grouse (uncommon) breed in the area. The most abundant warblers are Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Hooded, Swainson's, Worm-eating, American Redstart and Ovenbird. Moderate walking on woodland trails. Restrooms and a good restaurant are nearby.
- Trip 4: Oconee Station State Historic Site
- A stone trading post and fort date from 1792, just after the boundary between SC and the Cherokee Nation was moved from the present-day Greenville-Spartanburg County line. A short pleasant walk through Virginia Pines and then by beaver ponds (off-trail) allow for viewing a multitude of wildflowers. We will expect even more profuse wildflowers in spectacular Station Falls Cove. If you're interested in both birds and flowers, this is your trip!
- Trips 5, 13 and 17: Dobbins Farm/Beaverdam WMA/Townville
- In this long-time farming community are extensive pastures on the broad foothills. Look for grassland birds, some uncommon in the Carolinas, in the fields, and shorebirds and waterbirds on the farm ponds that punctuate the landscape. Beaverdam Creek is a Waterfowl Management Area on an arm of Lake Hartwell. Spring specialties include Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Horned Lark, migrating American Pipits, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, and maybe even a lingering Lincoln's Sparrow. Around the water, look for Green Heron, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal, American Bittern, Sora and Virginia Rails, migrant shorebirds and Prothonotary Warbler. Easy walking, but no restrooms.
- Trip 6: Stumphouse Mtn Heritage Preserve/Rich Mtn Rd Sumter National Forest
- Stumphouse Mountain is the location of an 1850s attempt to build a mile-long railroad tunnel, abandoned at 4363' because of the Civil War, and legendary 220' Isaqueena Falls. Typical low-elevation birds of the Blue Ridge are here, including Swainson's Warbler and Louisana Waterthrush along the creek. Rich Mountain Road (744) in Sumter National Forest features magnificent, old-growth hardwood forest with the attendant birdlife, including most of the local woodpeckers, vireos and warblers, with Cerulean Warbler being a long shot. Nearby Buzzards' Roost Mountain Heritage Preserve features dry oak-hickory woods and stands of Pitch Pine and Mountain Laurel, the latter of which should be at peak bloom during our visit. Several vireos and many warblers - migrants and nesters - are present here.
- Trip 8: Caesar's Head State Park/Oil Camp Creek Rd/Jones Gap State Park
- The Caesar's Head portion of this trip will be as described in Trip # 3 above. Oil Camp Creek Rd (unpaved) winds about 3 miles down the mountain to River Falls Rd (paved) which leads to Jones Gap State Park. This road/trail is perhaps the best place in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness (11,000 acres) to look for spring migrants. Wild Turkey and Ruffed Grouse are also possible. Jones Gap has good numbers of Louisiana Waterthrush, Swainson's Warbler and Wood Thrush. Expect 3-5 miles of moderate walking. Restrooms and a good restaurant are in the vicinity.
- Trip 9: Devil's Fork (SC) State Park/Gorges (NC) State Park
- The Jocassee Gorges are formed by the five rivers that rush down the escarpment into Lake Jocassee, one of South Carolina's most beautiful undeveloped mountain reservoirs. Both Carolinas have state parks in the Gorges area that provide wonderful wilderness birding. Anticipate limited numbers of waterfowl this at this time of year, rather Bald Eagle, Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven and other middleelevation spring birds. This trip will require a lot of driving and a moderate amount of walking. Restrooms are available at Devil's Fork State Park. Plan to bring your own lunch.
- Trip 10: Table Rock State Park/Sassafras Mt.
- Table Rock is an impressive granite landmark with a Civilian Conservation Corp-constructed state park on its south-facing slope. It is home to the state's only known nesting pair of Peregrine Falcons. At 3560' Sassafras Mountain is SC's highest point. It is one of our top venues for mountain birds, including Ruffed Grouse, Common Raven, Black-throated Blue and Chestnut-sided Warblers, and Dark-eyed Junco. Expect a lot of driving and a moderate amount of walking. Restrooms are available at Table Rock State Park. Plan to bring your own lunch.
- Trip 11: Rich Mountain Rd/Burrell's Ford/Walhalla Trout Hatchery
- Rich Mountain Rd is described under trip #6 above. Burrell's Ford, on the famed Chattooga (National Wild & Scenic) River, although only about 2300' in elevation, sports surprising bird life because of the deep gorge and pristine White Pine-Hemlock forest. The same can be said for the Walhalla Trout Hatchery upstream at about 2500' elevation. Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet and perhaps even Red Crossbill nest here. Blackthroated Blue Warblers are especially common. Expect some driving and moderate walking. Restrooms and a good, small restaurant are nearby.
- Trip 12: Woodburn Plantation/Fant's Grove WMA/Dobbins Farm/Beaverdam WMA
- The barn and feedlot at Woodburn Plantation should yield farmland birds similar to those at Dobbins Farm, which is also on this trip. Both of these Wildlife Management Areas are managed primarily for waterfowl. See trips #5 and 13 above for a more complete description of Dobbins Farm and Beaverdam WMA. Expect some driving and moderate walking. Restrooms and good sandwich shops can be found in the historic Pendleton Town Square.
- Trips 14 and 18: SC Botanical Garden/Blossoms, Birds, Butterflies
- Botanical gardens are rich places where animals as well as plants thrive. Join a leader who is knowledgeable about blossoms, birds and butterflies for a pleasant walk in beautiful surroundings. The State botanical garden is completely handicapped accessible, including restrooms.
- Trips 15 and 19: Oconee Point/Lake Hartwell
- Lake Hartwell is the northwestern-most of three huge reservoirs that stretch from the Fall Line to the Foothills. Water levels are very low now due to the persistent, extreme drought affecting the area. This actually enhances the prospect of finding migrant shorebirds, and potentially lingering waterfowl. In the surrounding woods we'll search for four species of vireos and many other woodland birds. This trip features easy walking, and rest rooms can be expected to be commonly available.
- Trips 16 and 20: Lake Isaqueena/Clemson Experimental Forest
- Lake Isaqueena has long been managed for waterfowl and gamebirds. Situated within the Clemson Experimental Forest of oak-hickory woods and a backwater marsh of Twelve-mile Creek (arm of Lake Hartwell), this site has the potential to produce sightings of many interesting birds. Look for Wild Turkey as well as Prothonotary and Worm-eating Warblers. Expect a moderate amount of easy walking. Restrooms are available.
Bonus Trips
- Bonus Trip: Stecoah Gap (separate $20 fee)
- Join Simon Thompson for a guided visit to the famed Stecoah Gap region in western NC. Expect several warbler species (including Blackburnian, Cerulean & Golden-winged), Blue-headed, Yellow-throated & Red-eyed Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, and more. The Gap is also a good spot for spring butterflies, and wildflowers will be in bloom along the forest service road and on the Appalachian Trail (AT). Expect a fairly level, easy walk; with optional, steeper climbs on the AT to enjoy the wildflower show. The trip will start at 8:00 AM at Stecoah Gap and should end by mid-afternoon. Directions and other information will be sent to participants upon registration. Please bring a picnic lunch. The nearest rest rooms are in Robbinsville, about 7 miles from Stecoah Gap. There are also restaurants and a couple of motels/inns in the Robbinsville area. Limited to 12 participants. The trip meets at Stecoah Gap. Please note that the distance from Clemson to Stecoah Gap is about 140 miles, or 2.5 hours of driving time.