Field Trip Descriptions
Read the field trip descriptions below and be prepared to specify during registration your first and second preferences for Friday and Saturday's field trips. Decide if you are interested in Trip 7 (nocturnal birding) and Trip 8 or 9 (Sunday to Conestee Nature Preserve or Lake Jocassee, respectively). See the Registration Page when you are ready to sign up.
Barred Owl - photo by Don Faulkner
FRIDAY, APRIL 26
Select from Trips 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
Consider Trip 7 (owling), offered only Friday night.
SATURDAY, APRIL 27
Select from Trips 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. (Note that Trips 6 and 7 are offered Friday only.)
SUNDAY, APRIL 28
Consider Trip 8, to Conestee Nature Preserve, or Trip 9, to Lake Jocassee, offered only Sunday.
We will carpool for all trips except Trips 5 and 7, for which we will use a State Parks van.
Trip 1: Nine Times Preserve and the Eastatoe Valley
FULL-DAY TRIP
The Nature Conservancy's Nine Times Preserve is a 560-acre preserve protecting one of the most biologically significant properties in the southern Appalachian foothills. This beautiful preserve holds several different forest types and a great variety of wildflowers, and a varied bird life to match. We'll start our day exploring some of the trails here to look for migrants as well as nesting warblers, thrushes, tanagers, and other passerines. We'll have a brief look at the adjacent Nine Times Forest, recently protected by Naturaland Trust, before working our way up the Eastatoe Valley. This scenic, pastoral valley offers a variety of habitats and has a reputation for turning up a few rarities each year during migration. Finally, we'll head to Sassafras Mountain, the highest point in South Carolina, looking for a variety of migrants as we climb.
- Full-day trip; pack a picnic lunch, water, and snacks
- Carpool departing from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 7:00 AM, or meet at the gravel parking lot at the corner of Preston McDaniel Road and Eastatoee Creek Road at 7:20 AM
- Difficulty level: Moderate. Most of the trails on this trip are level and easy. There is one short section of trail normally covered that's fairly steep
- Very limited restrooms available
Trip 2: Townville, Lake Hartwell, and Clemson
FULL-DAY TRIP
Horned Lark - photo by Don Faulkner
The agricultural lands and Wildlife Management Areas near Townville provide some of the best birding in the SC Upstate at any time of year. With a great diversity of habitat in the area, we'll look for open-country birds such as Blue Grosbeak, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Horned Larks, and raptors, check the wooded areas for migrant passerines, look for lingering ducks, and more. On the way back up to Table Rock, we will stop at Lake Hartwell to look for late gulls and terns before making a final stop at the Clemson Aquaculture Facility.
- Full-day trip; pack a picnic lunch, water, and snacks
- Carpool departing from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 6:30 AM, or meet at the Neighbors Pub parking lot at 7:30 AM
- Difficulty level: Easy. Lots of roadside birding. Trails in the WMAs are level and well-maintained
- Limited restrooms available
Trip 3: Ashmore, Chandler and Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserves
FULL-DAY TRIP
Ashmore and Chandler Heritage Preserves are nestled into the beautiful mountains near Caesars Head and Jones Gap State Parks. We'll start the morning looking for warblers, tanagers, and other migrant and nesting passerines at Ashmore and along Persimmon Ridge Road, all of which can make for some very productive spring birding. After birding in the foothills and mountains throughout the morning, we'll head to Bunched Arrowhead Heritage Preserve, a diverse tract with both brushy fields and forest where breeding Yellow-breasted Chats, Indigo Buntings, and Blue Grosbeaks can be found alongside many of the species typically found in more heavily wooded habitats.
- Full-day trip; pack a picnic lunch, water, and snacks
- Carpool departing from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 7:00 AM, or meet at the gravel parking lot for Ashmore HP on Persimmon Ridge Road at 7:20 AM
- Difficulty level: Moderate. Some of the walking at Ashmore HP includes elevation change. The trail at Bunched Arrowhead is level and well-maintained
- Very limited restrooms available
Trip 4: The South Carolina Botanical Garden and the Clemson University Experimental Forest
FULL-DAY TRIP
The SC Botanical Garden at Clemson University is 295 acres of diverse gardens, streams, and nature trails with a penchant for attracting a great variety of migrant songbirds. For the morning half of this trip, we'll tour through the gardens to find those migrants along with lingering winter residents, and enjoy some botanizing as well. After a picnic lunch, we'll continue into the southern portions of the Clemson Experimental Forest. This large (17,500 acres!) forest is used by Clemson University researchers and students to develop a better understanding of management of forest resources, and offers a variety of habitats along the eastern shore of Lake Hartwell for us to explore.
- Full-day trip; pack a picnic lunch, water, and snacks
- Carpool departing from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 6:45 AM, or meet at the Botanical Garden Geology Museum parking lot at 7:30 AM
- Difficulty level: Easy. Well-maintained trails on relatively level terrain at the Botanical Garden. Some sections of trail in the Experimental Forest may include some minor elevation change and can become muddy after rain
- Limited restrooms available in the morning; none in the Experimental Forest
Trip 5: Table Rock, The Mountain Bridge, and Tall Pines
BIRD CALL WORKSHOP
FULL-DAY-DAY TRIP
NOTE DIFFERENT ITINERARY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Birding in the SC Upstate in the spring exposes one to an almost overwhelming chorus of bird song, chips, and flight call notes. This trip will focus on learning some of those calls, and on birding by ear more generally. Since the birds start singing early, we'll start early too, meeting at the Table Rock Visitor Center at 6:15 AM. We'll linger around the Visitor Center for some time, then travel via the State Parks van in search of more migrants.
On Friday's trip, we'll then work our way up into the beautiful Mountain Bridge Wilderness. As we climb, we'll make several stops to bird in the oak-hickory forest and along streams as we work our way up into the verdant South Carolina mountains, finding a changing variety of birds as we climb. Stops will include Oil Camp Creek Road and Caesars Head State Park. We'll return to Table Rock for lunch and to allow anyone who'd like to break away for afternoon Trip 6, to look for butterflies.
On Saturday, we'll instead explore deeper into Table Rock SP, checking out the oak-hickory forest at the White Oaks picnic / camping area, near the Palmetto Pavilion, and at other spots inside the park.
On both days, we'll spend the afternoon at Tall Pines Wildlife Management Area. This WMA was acquired by SC DNR and made open to the public in early 2019, and has become popular with local birders. The nearly 1700-acre propery in northern Greenville County boasts a variety of habitats, including forested trails, a pond, brushy edges, and some open field.
- Full-day trip
- Pack lunch, water, and snacks
- Note option on Friday to break away at lunch to afternoon half-day Trip 6
- Meet at the Table Rock Visitor Center at 6:15 AM. We'll use the State Parks van for transportation from here
- Difficulty level: Moderate. Areas covered at Table Rock SP are level and easy; the trail along Oil Camp Creek Road has some uneven terrain and elevation change; trails at Tall Pines are fairly level and in good condition but can become muddy during or after wet weather
- Limited restrooms available in the morning; none at Tall Pines
Trip 6: Butterfly-watching Outing to Table Rock, Nine Times
HALF-DAY TRIP
OFFERED FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONLY
This trip will allow those interested in seeing some of the Upstate's wide variety of butterflies a chance to do so. We'll start after lunch at the Visitor Center at Table Rock State Park, working our way along the edge of the lake and around the historic residence. We'll then move over to the Nine Times Preserve and explore along its streams and clearings. Bring a butterfly field guide if you have one. The trip leader will be knowledgeable in the butterflies of the area, and beginners are welcome!
- Half-day afternoon trip; pack water and snacks
- Start at the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 1:00 PM; carpooling to subsequent locations
- Difficulty level: Easy. We'll be moving pretty slowly over fairly even terrain in search of butterflies
- Limited restrooms available
Trip 7: Owling at Table Rock State Park
NOCTURNAL BIRDING
FRIDAY NIGHT ONLY
Those up for a little nocturnal birding should meet at the Table Rock State Park Nature Center Parking Lot at 8:45 PM. We'll look around various spots in the park for owls and nightjars.
- Meet at the Table Rock State Park Nature Center Parking Lot at 8:45 PM
- Bring a flashlight or headlamp
- Difficulty level: Easy. A bit of walking on paved surfaces throughout Table Rock SP
Trip 8: Conestee Nature Preserve
OPTIONAL BONUS TRIP
SUNDAY ONLY
We'll have two options for participants interested in birding on Sunday morning before hitting the road for home. The first is an outing to Conestee Nature Preserve, just south of Greenville. This park, consisting of approximately 400 acres of diverse habitat, has been designated as an Important Bird Area of Global Significance by the National Audubon Society. Over 200 species of birds have been identified at Conestee, thanks in large part to its diverse habitat and great trail system. We'll work our way around some of these trails to find a variety of waterfowl, waders, woodpeckers, warblers, and more!
- Half-day morning trip
- Pack water and snacks; those wanting to linger a bit later may want to bring a picnic lunch
- Meet at the Conestee Preserve Mauldin Road (baseball complex) parking lot at 7:30 AM
- Difficulty level: Easy. It's a lot of walking, but over fairly level terrain on trails in good condition
- Restrooms available at the parking area
Trip 9: Lake Jocassee and Devils Fork State Park
OPTIONAL BONUS TRIP
SUNDAY ONLY
Note additional cost: $65 per person
Our second option for Sunday birding will be an outing to beautiful Lake Jocassee and Devils Fork State Park. We'll begin the morning with one of the trails at Devils Fork in search of warblers, thrushes, tanagers, and other migrants. The highlight of this trip will be a pontoon boat ride onto Lake Jocassee with local guide Brooks Wade of Jocassee Lake Tours. The boat ride will delve into some of Jocassee's most scenic coves for looks at waterfalls and foliage. While the birding from the boat may be sparse, the scenery will be fantastic, and there's a small chance for a look at the Peregrine Falcons that nest along the cliffs on the eastern shore. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch out on the lake before returning to the dock.
- Full-day trip; pack a picnic lunch, water, and snacks
- Carpool departing from the Table Rock State Park Visitor Center at 7:30 AM, or
meet at the Devils Fork State Park Visitor Center at 8:00 AM
- If you prefer to sleep in, you may meet the group at the Devils Fork boat launch at 9:00 AM, but please make your preference known at registration when you check in
- Difficulty level: Easy. We'll walk one trail with some uneven terrain, and then it's a relaxing boat ride
- Restrooms available at the park office; none on the boat