Field Trips July 2023 – Jan 2024
Augusta Aiken Audubon Field Trip – July 2023 – Jan 2024
July 8 – Augusta/Aiken butterfly count; contact John Demko for details. One group at Silver Bluff, one group at Phinizy (8am).
July 29 – Silver Bluff Waders and Swallow-tailed Kites; meet at the Kathwood Ponds at 7am to walk around the ponds looking for Wood Storks, shorebirds and Roseate Spoonbills among others. The early start is to try and beat the worst of the heat and Wood Storks are most active from dusk to dawn so we should get more birds at this time. We will finish up at the ponds by about 10am and then those who wish can carpool to Millet Road in Anderson County to look for Swallow-tailed Kites. We will spend an hour or two there then bird along Millet Rd and head home.
August 12 – Phinizy Waders; This is a Phinizy Swamp NP trip and there is a charge of $5. Meet in the parking lot at Phinizy at 8am. We will carpool and drive around the property looking for post-breeding dispersal birds including Tricolored Heron. We will finish around 11am.
September 9 – Lover’s Lane; Meet at the Popeye’s at Walton Way and Gordon Highway. We will carpool to Lover’s Lane to look for early fall migrants and summer birds.
September 23 – Phinizy Migration walk; Meet at the Phinizy Swamp NP parking area at 8 am. We will walk around the park (up to 3 miles) looking for fall migrants. This is a Phinizy trip and there is a $5 charge for the field trip.
October 7 – Aiken County Migration count; bird anywhere in Aiken County and count all birds you see/hear (visually verify Merlin identifications please). Keep track of you time walking and driving and turn all info in to either eBird or to Paul Koehler when you are finished.
October 28 – Silver Bluff Quail Trail; meet at the Silver Bluff Visitor Center at 9am to walk the Quail Trail (3 miles) looking for fall/winter arrivals.
November 11 – Phinizy Swamp NP; meet in the parking lot at Phinizy Swamp NP at 9 am to walk the loop trail (2.5 miles) looking for sparrows, ducks, bitterns and other winter residents.
November 18 – Jackson Landing Rd; meet at Silver Bluff’s Kathwood Ponds at 9 am to carpool to Jackson Landing Rd. We will bird the length of the road (conditions permitting) looking for winter residents including sparrows, kinglets, thrushes and others.
December 2 – Brickyard Ponds; Meet at the Popeye’s at Gordon Highway and Walton Way at 9 am to carpool to Brickyard Ponds in Augusta. We will drive the roads (conditions permitting) looking for ducks and other waterfowl. If the roads are impassible we will bird the paved road looking for winter woodland birds.
December 16 – Augusta Christmas Bird Count; this count will be open this year. If you wish to participate please contact Lois Stacey.
December 24 – Aiken Christmas Bird Count; details to follow, contact Calvin Zippler.
January 13 – Savannah NWR; The Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive is open again after several years. Details will be finalized later, but we will carpool from the Augusta/Aiken area or you can meet us at Laurel Hill Wildlife drive and we will drive the loop looking for ducks and rails especially. Bring lunch and snacks as we will eat along the loop somewhere. This will be an early start as it is about 2.5 hours to Savannah.
