Poinsett State Park
Robin Carter
Directions
From the intersection of US 378 and SC 261 in Stateburg go south on SC 261 for about 12 miles. Here turn right (east) onto Road 63, Poinsett Park Road and go about 2 miles to the park entrance.
Birds to look for
Mississippi Kite (s), Yellow-billed Cuckoo (s), Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl, Chuck-will's-widow (s), Whip-poor-will (s), Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (w), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Acadian Flycatcher (s), Eastern Phoebe (w), Blue-headed Vireo (w; perhaps s), Red-breasted Nuthatch (w), White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Brown Creeper (w), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery (m), Swainson's Thrush (m), Hermit Thrush (w), Wood Thrush (s), Blue-winged Warbler (m), Orange-crowned Warbler (w), Northern Parula (s), Chestnut-sided Warbler (m), Magnolia Warbler (m), Cape May Warbler (m), Black-throated Blue Warbler (m), Yellow-rumped Warbler (w), Black-throated Green Warbler (m), Yellow-throated Warbler (s, perhaps w), Pine Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler (spring), Cerulean Warbler (m), Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart (m, perhaps s), Prothonotary Warbler (s), Worm-eating Warbler (s), Swainson's Warbler (s), Ovenbird (m, perhaps s), Northern Waterthrush (m), Louisiana Waterthrush (s), Kentucky Warbler (s), Hooded Warbler (s), Summer Tanager (s), Scarlet Tanager (m), Chipping Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak (m)
Description
The cool ravines and bay thickets of Poinsett State Park are great for migrants and breeding warblers and vireos. This park is worth a visit at any time of year. It has cabins and a campground. One drawback for day visitors—the park does not open until 9:00 AM! If you arrive early try birding in Manchester State Forest, which completely surrounds the state park. The advantages of the park over the state forest are those of better infrastructure, including flush toilets, picnic shelters, and very good trails. Plus there is no hunting in the park—a big advantage during the August through December deer hunting season.