Upcoming field trips:
NOTE: FOR ALL FIELD TRIPS – Please confirm with Lois at 8032151594, or birdercroakie@gmail.com if you will be attending the trip. If no one confirms, the field trip may be canceled without notice.
2022 Field Trips
May 7, 2022 – Migration Count
We will have teams and/or individuals counting all of the birds they find in Aiken County. Contact Paul Koehler to participate.
May 14 – Phinizy 8am
Meet in the parking lot at the park and we will walk the 2.5 mile loop looking for whatever we can find, possibly even Bobolinks.
May 21 – Crackerneck 8am
Crackerneck WMA is located on the edge of the Savannah River Site in Jackson and is acres and acres of woods, ponds and Three Runs Creek. We will drive around various places looking for birds and bugs primarily. This may end up being an all day thing so bring snacks and lunch just in case. If we get back to Three Runs Creek (very likely) it can take 30 minutes to drive back to the exit.
June 4 – Francis Marion Butterflies
I will be in the Francis Marion National Forest in McClellenville, SC on this day. Anyone interested may join me, you will need to either drive down (3 hours) that morning or you can stay overnight on your own (Georgetown is not far or camping is available at Buck Hall Recreation Area). We will drive forest service roads looking for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and rattlesnakes but primarily for butterflies. Georgia Satyr, Little Metalmark and Reversed Roadside-skippers will be our primary targets but this is a butterfly rich area and there are lots of species to see.
June 11 – Phinizy 8am
This is our last field trip before the summer heat. We will meet in the parking lot at the park and walk around looking for summer nesting birds. We may end up walking the 2.5 mile loop but we’ll see what is in the park and go accordingly.
July 30 – Kathwood Waders
Meet at the Kathwood Ponds at Silver Bluff at 8am to walk the ponds looking at Wood Storks and any other waders and shorebirds that are coming to the lowered ponds.
August 13 – Phinizy Waders
Join Phinizy Swamp education personnel in our annual drive around the part looking for post-dispersal waders. Meet in the parking lot at 8am. There will be a $5 charge for this Phinizy Event. This is the best time of year to find Tricolored Herons in Augusta.
September 17 – Crackerneck Wings and Things
Meet at the gate check in station at 9am. We will travel around the property looking at anything we can find. Depending on whether or not they have mowed this can be a fantastic place for butterflies as well as birds. Bring snacks/lunch because if we get to the back we may be there a while. Depending on time we may come out by the power line road.
September 24 – Phinizy Swamp Migration Count
Meet at Phinizy Parking lot at 8am to walk the trails looking for fall migrants. There will be a $5 charge for this trip.
October 1 – Aiken County Migration Count
Contact Lois for details and to participate.
October 8 – Silver Bluff Quail Trail
Meet at the Silver Bluff visitor center at 8am to walk the Quail Trail looking for arriving winter visitors and migrants.
October 22 – Phinizy Swamp NP
Meet in the parking lot at 8am to walk the 2.5 mile loop looking for arriving winter residents and lingering migrants.
November 5 – Brickyard Ponds
Meet at Popeye’s at Walton Way and Gordon Hwy at 8am to carpool. There is a $4 charge to enter the ponds. We will look for arriving waterfowl as well as woodland birds.
November 12 – Lover’s Lane
Meet at Popeye’s at Walton Way and Gordon Hwy at 8am to carpool. We will look for winter residents including sparrows and thrushes.
November 19 – Kathwood Ponds
Meet at the Kathwood Ponds at Silver Bluff. We will walk the edges looking for winter woodland birds and ducks.
December 3 – Brickyard Ponds
Meet at Popeye’s at Walton Way and Gordon Hwy at 8am to carpool. Ducks should be in by now and we will look for them as well as woodland birds, sparrows and gulls.
December 17 – Augusta CBC
Contact Lois Stacey to participate
December 24 – Aiken CBC
Contact Calvin Zippler to participate