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Re: SCR (was Birding in Horry & Georgetown Cos.)



			Hi y'all,

made a call this afternoon to Santee Coastal Reserve to determine 
accessibility. here's what i was told:

open thru Nov. 23

closed Nov. 24 - 30 for deer hunting

open Dec. 1 - 11

open with limited access (no marsh, impoundments) Dec. 12 - Jan. 23 (duck 
hunting)

closed Wed. & Sat. from Jan. 24 - Mar. 1

cheers,

gary

>Hi Dennis and C-Birders,
> 
> Here are a few random thoughts about having fun finding birds on the
> northern South Carolina coast at this time of year.
> 
> If you really want to find Red-cockaded Woodpeckers you should go down to
> Charleston County, which is really not that far. There are a few places in
> Horry County and lots more in Georgetown County where you might find this
> species, but these are iffy. They oten have access problems, or the birds
> are not that easy to find. Of course the best times of day are dawn and
> dusk, as the birds are leaving or entering their roost trees. If you want a
> greater chance of success then visit the Santee Coastal Reserve or Francis
> Marion National Forest.
> 
> A visit to Santee Coastal might be good for ducks, etc. but I am not sure if
> you can go into the marshes at this time of year. South Carolina has a great
> penchant for keeping ordinary wildlife observers out of its very best duck
> spots, in deference to the duck hunters. I do not know what the current
> visitation policy might be for this time of year at Santee Coastal Reserve.
> 
> A couple of real sleepers are the Georgeown and Hemingway sewage treatment
> ponds. Both areas are places that you can observe from outside of the fence.
> The Georgetown STP is northwest of town, near the animal shelter. Turn off
> of US 521 at the sign for the animal shelter or for the DMV office. Follow
> this road to a junction, turn right and cross the railroad tracks.
> 
> The Hemingway STP is a good spot for ducks and Eared Grebe. It's a bit
> tricky to find. From Hemingway go north towards Johnsonville on SC 41.
> Exactly at the Williamsburg - Florence county line turn right (east) on
> Secondary Road 40. There is a barbeque restaurant at this turn. Go east a
> short way (less than a mile) to the first crossroad. Here turn right (south)
> on Secondary Road 444 to the sewage lagoons on your right.
> 
> Do not underestimate the birding at Huntington Beach State Park and Myrtle
> Beach State Park. Visit these spots more than once, and putz around. You
> will probably turn up something good. I have a prediction to make. The thick
> pine tree area along the Kerrigan Nature Trail looks to me to be a good spot
> for wintering owls. I predict that someone will find a Northern Saw-whet Owl
> there this winter. It might as well be you.
> 
> Robin Carter
> Columbia, SC
> rcarter@sc.rr.com
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <Burnetted@aol.com>
> To: <carolinabirds@duke.edu>
> Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2002 6:06 PM
> Subject: Birding in Horry & Georgetown Cos.
> 
> 
> > Carolina Birders,
> >
> > Several of us from the Piedmont Bird Club in Guilford County, NC will be
> > heading for Huntington Beach State Park and vicinity over Thanksgiving. We
> > have gotten some ideas for local day trips from several of the nearby
> folks
> > (thanks again!), but it occurs to me that casting a wider net among
> > Carolinabirds folks might result in more ideas for sites to fill our four
> > birding days in Horry and Georgetown Counties. Specifically:
> >
> > There have been several postings on Carolinabirds that involve piers.
> Which
> > piers currently are birder friendly places for us to look for sea birds?
> >
> > We would like to find Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, but have failed to do so
> near
> > Brookgreen Gardens on the last few trips. Any other ideas?
> >
> > After we have checked the coastal sites, are there some inland locations
> > where interesting species might be found, i.e. longspurs, pipits, horned
> > larks, and so on?
> >
> > Other than HBSP, are there other ponds or lakes that would be worth
> checking
> > for waterfowl?
> >
> > In other words, if you were going to spend four days at the end of
> November
> > birding in Horry and Georgetown Counties, where would you go?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Dennis Burnette
> > Greensboro, NC
> > burnetted@aol.com
> 
> 
> 
>