Whitehouse Road Loop
Hilda Flamholtz
Directions
From I-26, take exit 116 to merge onto I-77 North toward Charlotte. Take exit 5 for SC-48/Bluff Road. Keep left and turn left onto Bluff Road. Take the first left onto S Beltline Blvd. (Birding starts here as you see wetlands on your right.) Continue driving/birding, take the first left turn onto Simmon Tree Lane. Take the first left onto Metro Lane. Turn left onto Whitehouse Road (dirt). Continue until you reach Bluff Rd.
Birds to look for
Wetlands - Wood Duck, Anhinga (s), Red-headed Woodpecker, Rusty Blackbird (w), Common Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Green Heron (s), Little Blue Heron (s), Great Blue Heron, Great Egret (s), Swamp Sparrow (w), Swainson’s Warbler (s), Common Yellowthroat, Belted Kingfisher
Agricultural Fields - Eastern Meadowlark (w), Dickcissel (s),Northern Harrier (w), American Pipit (w), Killdeer, Bobolink (spring/fall), Mississippi Kite (s), Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, Savannah Sparrow (w), American Crow, Mourning Dove, Field Sparrow, Wilson’s snipe (w), Barn Swallow (s)
Powerlines/Hedgerows - Kestrel, Eastern Bluebird, Indigo Bunting(s), Painted Bunting (s), Blue Grosbeak (s), Yellow-breasted Chat (s), Orchard Oriole (s)
East Richland Wastewater Treatment Plant – Palm Warbler (w), Cliff Swallow (s), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (s)
Rarities: Short-eared Owl (w), White Ibis (spring/fall), Wood Stork (spring/fall), Purple Finch (w), Sandhill Crane (spring/fall), Vesper Sparrow (w), Eurasian Collared-Dove, Hooded Merganser (w), Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite
Description
This loop is about 5 miles through open farmlands with small wetlands sprinkled in. There are places where you can pull over and walk along the road, but all of the property is private so keep to the right of way. The last leg, Whitehouse Road, is dirt, but in fairly good condition for driving. There are several grassy areas near the road which are good for sparrows. During wet periods, sandpipers have been found in around puddles in the agricultural fields. Gulls and terns may also be present. Hawks can be seen soaring and hunting from the trees on the borders of the fields. Two wastewater treatment plants are on the route, but not directly accessible. The East Richland plant on Whitehouse Rd. is a consistently good spot for Palm Warblers in the winter and houses a colony of nesting Cliff Swallows in the summer.