Field Trips
IMPORTANT Change: Call the field trip leader to register for a trip. Also, call at least one day before the trip to ensure that trip is still on schedule.
August 14, 2010 - Dragons and Damsels. Meet at Weymouth Woods at 2 pm for this half-day trip to the Sandhills Game Lands to look for, catch, and ID as many odonates as we can. We will visit the McKinney Lake area. Bring sunscreen, bug spray, snacks, and water. Plan on returning around 5 pm.. Trip Leader: Scott Hartley. To sign up, call Scott at 910-638-5225.
August 28, 2010 - Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge. We’ll do a half-day birding trip to Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge near Wadesboro. The birders of the SNHS know this 8,400-acre park well, but this trip is for all members. This is the only National Wildlife Refuge in the Piedmont region, and it’s possible to see some interesting birds toward the end of the summer. Last year, several of us encountered two juvenile White Ibis foraging, and a few weeks later, a Wood Stork. Glossy Ibis and Purple Gallinule have been sighted in the past. If it cools off considerably, and we have an early fall, it would be possible to see Lincoln’s, Vesper, and White-crowned sparrows. Meet at 6 a.m. at Cashpoints on Rt. 1, and bring snacks, water, etc. New birders are encouraged to attend! We will be back to Southern Pines by 2 p.m. Trip Leader: Cassie Willis. To sign up, call 910-528-6447, or e-mail: cwillis740@aol.com.
September 14 - 16, 2010 - Swift Night Out. We will conduct or annual guesstimate of the number of Chimney Swifts that roost in our area chimneys on their journey back to the upper Amazon Basin. We will determine which chimney to watch in early September, and will send out an e-mail when and where to meet. Trip Leader: Scott Hartley. To sign up, and for last minute information and directions, call Scott at 910-638-5225.
September 17, 2010 - Stargazing 101. Meet at Weymouth Woods at 7:30 p.m. We will spend a half-hour inside learning basic astronomy and constellations, and then head out to learn to find and identify the brightest stars in the sky, and the constellations to which they belong. Trip Leader: Scott Hartley. For more information call Scott at 910-638-5225.
September 18, 2010 - Bird Walk. Meet at Weymouth Woods at 8:00 a.m. for a two-mile walk to look for migrant birds. If Susan Campbell is banding, we will spend a little time at the banding station. Bring binoculars and bug spray. Trip Leader: Scott Hartley. To sign up, call Scott at 910-638-5225.
October 9, 2010 - Longvalley Farm: Wildflowers and birds. Longvalley Farm is the former property of Mr. Stillman Rockefeller, now owned by The Nature Conservancy. This 1400-acre tract will be transferred to NC State Parks and will be the headquarters for Carver’s Creek State Park, a 1300-acre tract about 10 minutes from Longvalley. Longvalley has a variety of habitat, including oak-hickory woodland, several fields, Longleaf Pine flatwoods, a small millpond, and a nice gum and cypress swamp. Many fall wildflowers will be peaking, including asters, goldenrods, grasses, and Catesby’s Gentian. Longvalley is located in Spring Lake, and the drive time is 35 minutes one-way. Meet at Weymouth Woods for a 7:00 a.m. departure, and bring a bag lunch. We’ll eat in the shelter by the millpond. Trip Leaders: Bruce Sorrie and Cassie Willis. To sign up, call Cassie at 910-528-6447, or e-mail her at cwillis740@aol.com.
October 16, 2010 - Congaree National Park. The SNHS will drive to the 24,000-acre Congaree National Park in South Carolina for a day trip. Congaree is a world of primeval forest landscapes, champion trees, and diverse plant and animal life. We will walk the 2.4-mile boardwalk, and explore the Visitors’ Center. This trip is open to all, but the birders who attend will see Northern Parula, American Redstart, Barred Owl, and other common swamp birds. In previous Octobers, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Yellow-throated, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Worm-eating, and Canada warblers, and Northern Waterthrush have been sighted migrating through. And perhaps we will see River Otters playing. Meet at Cashpoints on Rt. 1 in Aberdeen at 6 a.m. Bring lunch and snacks. Trip Leader: Cassie Willis. To sign up, call 910-528-6447 or e-mail: cwillis740@aol.com.
Field Trip Ideas
Listed below are locations that have been suggested for future field trips. You don’t have to be an expert to lead a trip. You just need to be the willing to schedule, meet and do the logistics.If you have other field trip ideas or would be willing to lead one, please contact Scott Hartley at 692-2167 or 944-9337.
Falls Lake-Triangle Lakes for waterfowl.
Uhwarrie National Forest.
Canoe/Kayak – Black River/Lumber River, etc.
Bay Lakes.
Bog Turtle Search.
