Double Logging Road at Night

We walked RC Edward to triple creek, and walked the anthill loop before heading back last night 8-11:30pm (at least that's my guess). We came across quite a few giant lichen orb weavers (?) and heard 3 coyotes howling. No snakes, and the only nocturnal birds were chuck-will's-widows near the lake.

RC Edwards

Strolled RC Edwards trail this morning, and post-rain, it was a great environment for snakes and turtles! Around 8:45am, I found a box turtle crossing the trail, and 20 feet down the trail, a copperhead crossing. It was flicking its tongue looking for food, but as it saw me, it froze. Wishing it would continue on its way, but seeing it wasn't going to, I ended my walk there. I will return with my snake-wrangling friend who has been looking for the venomous creatures!

Bachman's Sparrow and a Possible Black-Billed Cuckoo?

I went back to the clear cut today to get beautiful looks at a Bachman's sparrow with my friend Kate! Once we crop the original should be able to zoom a bit more. Also had a possible black-billed cuckoo fly low over the road in front of my car, into the young pine stand off the driver's side. Tried playback but it didn't respond...I later found a report that they will sometimes skulk and peek at you as opposed to responding vocally. Calls for a more rigorous search attempt.

Keowee Heights

Found the letterbox at the old plantation site: http://www.atlasquest.com/

We visited the spring house and the cemetery. Ben pointed out sensitive brier, a beautiful little wildflower on the side of the road. I may have heard a Bachman's sparrow at the end of the road, at the power line clear cut...I am very concerned because we saw heavy cutting machinery for maintaining the power line areas. While I have no problem (yet?) with the cuts, that stuff needs to be done in winter...I am worried about all the tall-grass nesting species who have eggs/nestlings right now, and also for the presence of our rare sparrow.

Doyle Bottom Rd

Today, we walked one of the peninsulas off hunting arrow, accessed by Doyle Bottom Rd. We drove the road almost to the end, which had been driven recently, as evidenced by the mowed down grasses. Nothing too rare, but did have a prairie warbler singing off-key and gleaning in a pine sapling next to the path.

Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher

This is a cell phone pic of the scissor-tailed flycatcher off Gunter Rd in Piedmont, SC today at 2:15pm. If ever there was a day I needed to see a cool bird...I praise God for the blessing of the beautiful sighting. The bird flew in front of my car, showing off the magnificent tail, and landed on a wire right next to my car as I parked, giving incredible looks.

Hunting Arrow

We traversed hunting arrow last night looking for nocturnal creatures. Nothing too crazy, just the standard chuck-will's widows and whip-poor-wills. Also had summer tanagers chattering until nightfall, the latest heard songbirds in the forest.