2022 Walterboro Criterium Cycling Race - Speed Week

Pro Women's Race Start

The 19th edition of pro cycling races in downtown Walterboro was back on its regular Spring date, and a cool NE breeze made it a delightful evening to be outdoors. It's hard to believe that the 20th year of racing will be in 2023, but that is telling of how the Criterium Racing blueprint is well conceived and executed. The fact that the Speed Week organization and cyclists pick up and move from town to town to race with such efficiency is amazing. Of course, they need willing sites like dowtown Walterboro that can close down a few streets in order to provide and safe but challenging race course. Here's hoping the 20th Edition of the Walterboro Criterium will be the biggest one yet! 

Kids Race Starting Line

VIP tent for seated barbecue supper

To view past blog entries about Criterium Cycling Speed Week click on 2021 - 2017- 2016- 2015 -  2014 -  2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010, - 2009 

Sponsor Signage and Andrew Beam

2022 Audubon Silver Bluff - Spring Birding

Common yellowthroat lifting off

The Fripp Island Audubon Club traveled to Aiken to visit the Silver Bluff property on Friday, April 22. The National Audubon Society owns and manages the property for an array of bird life. The Bluff refers to high ground along the Savannah River, and they own 2.3-miles of river frontage. But much of the property is upland pines managed with controlled burns to create habitat that suits neotropical migratory songbirds such as Indigo bunting and Summer tanager. A separate unit at Silver Bluff involves impoundments that are seasonally flooded and then drained in order to attract and nourish wood storks in August and shorebirds in Fall. 

Silver Bluff is located near Aiken, S.C.

Our group was fortunate to have Silver Bluff Director Brandon Hietkamp show us around, plus Audubon's Director of Land Conservation Tim Evans joined us. These two can identify birds like the rare Bachman's sparrow 'by ear' and can actually count the number of them they hear, even without a visual ID. Our visit to a large open field adjacent to the Bluff included sightings of Common yellowthroat, Orchard Oriole, Blue grosbeak and bluebirds. Timber thinning operations keeps the piney woods from getting too thick, and serve to open up the mid-story of the forest, which songbirds appreciate. The open woods make for easy hiking, and it was good to see other birders enjoying the property during our visit, and no doubt making plans for a return visit to explore more of the acreage. Silver Bluff is under an easement with Lowcountry Land Trust.

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 2022 Phinizy Swamp - 2022 Oldfield Outfitters - 2022 Dolphin Head Beach - 2022 Bear Island WMA - 2022 Widgeon Point - 2022 Port Royal Sound Foundation / Nature Trail - 2022 Parris Island Birding 

Fripp Island Audubon Club members

To view blog entries from 2021 field trips click 2021 Palmetto Bluff Christmas Bird Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA Birding - 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge- 2021 Nemours Plantation / Fall Birding - 2021 Coastal Exploration / South Fenwick Island - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Lighthouse and Beach - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Wildlife Sightings - 2021 Coastal Exploration / Bennett's Point- 2021 Edisto Canoe and Kayak Commission - 2021 Congaree / Swamp Plants - 2021 Congaree - Swamp Critters - 2021 Furman University - 2021 Givhans Ferry State Park -  2021 Spring Island - Reptiles and Amphibians - 2021 Spring Island / Plants and Insects - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Wildlife - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2021 Beidler Forest / Flora and Fauna - 2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake - 2021 Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021 Nemours Plantation Birding 

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015

Never know what you might see while birding

 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

2022 Phinizy Swamp - Nature Combining with Water Sciences

Located just below Augusta, Georgia

Phinizy Swamp lies along the Georgia side of the Savannah River just below Augusta, and is now integral to their wastewater treatment. History states that Native American tribes utilized this same area for trade, and then an Italian named Phinizy settled here in 1778. The remaining land from his holdings comprise the 6000-acre Nature Park owned by the City of Augusta, which is open to the public. Several large wetlands are ringed by walking trails, and boardwalks plus an extensive swamp system sprawls in every direction. Large cypress trees draped in Spanish moss welcomes avian life to visit, and hardwood bottoms like Phinizy Swamp are certainly the hallmark of a conservation success story.

Gallinule with two chicks, a sign of Spring

The timing of our April 21 visit was no fluke, since the Fripp Island Audubon Club came to see neotropical migratory songbirds. A boardwalk through a wide cypress creek bottom leads to the Phinizy welcome center and Swamp Store. Maps of the property provide the info for a self-guided walking tour, and binoculars are necessary to search out bird life across large ponds and at the tree tops. Of course, locals are here using the park as a walking or running path, or simply walking their dog, so the home town feeling of a park is also intact. Alligators, turtle, butterflies and wading birds are all commonplace here, and the migratory bird presence was strong too. Common yellowthroat, Parula warbler, Cape May warbler, Yellow-throat warbler, Savannah sparrow, Painted bunting and many others were sighted. I recommend about 4 hours time to complete the entire walking loop of the property, which includes time to stop and enjoy the natural surroundings. 

A Red-spotted Purple butterfly

Savannah Sparrow

To view more about Augusta click on The Partridge Inn - Forest Hills Golf - Frog Hollow Tavern- Augusta Canal Tour - The Masters / Eisenhower Tree 

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 2022 Oldfield Outfitters - 2022 Dolphin Head Beach - 2022 Bear Island WMA - 2022 Widgeon Point - 2022 Port Royal Sound Foundation / Nature Trail - 2022 Parris Island Birding - 2021 Palmetto Bluff Christmas Bird Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA Birding - 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge- 2021 Nemours Plantation / Fall Birding - 2021 Coastal Exploration / South Fenwick Island - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Lighthouse and Beach - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Wildlife Sightings - 2021 Coastal Exploration / Bennett's Point- 2021 Edisto Canoe and Kayak Commission - 2021 Congaree / Swamp Plants - 2021 Congaree - Swamp Critters - 2021 Furman University - 2021 Givhans Ferry State Park -  2021 Spring Island - Reptiles and Amphibians - 2021 Spring Island / Plants and Insects - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Wildlife - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2021 Beidler Forest / Flora and Fauna - 2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake - 2021 Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021 Nemours Plantation Birding 

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

For past blog entries on 2016 travels click Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center - ACE Basin NERR - Abbeville - Seabrook Island - Rembert - Boykin - Kershaw County

For past blog entries on 2015 travels click  Little St. Simon's Island - SouthWest Florida - Alabama Black Belt - N.C. Brunswick Islands - Jensen Beach, Florida

For past blog entries on 2014 travels click on Barnsley Resort - Bald Head Island - Chicago - Fontana Village 

Creek flowing through Phinizy

Neat in-swamp recessed-floor porch

2022 Breakfast Club Fly-In at Broxton Bridge Plantation

Beechcraft T-34 USAF airplane

The S.C. Breakfast Club of aviation enthusiasts holds monthly meetings around the state, where members fly into their destination on a Sunday morning for fellowship together. Broxton Bridge Plantation has been hosting this group for many years, and the April 24 Fly-In welcomed 25 airplanes and one helicopter to the grass airstrip. A couple of pilots flew in the day before in order to stay at the Bed and Breakfast on site, an old wooden structure built in 1880 that features private bedrooms, but communal living space and kitchen. The accommodations in the Deer room include a King-size bed, leather chair, overhead fan, and vintage sporting artwork. Furthermore, an overnight includes lots of bird life like barred owls hooting nearby at dusk and lots of clean country air to breathe in and relax.

Beechcraft Bonanza airplane

A light morning fog from 7 until 8:15 created only a slight delay for the Fly-in crowd and when the blue skies opened up, I bet the first fifteen planes all landed within about 30-minutes. A caravan of seven planes from Monks Corner arrived just a bit later, and they were all associated with one local airport. The Beechcraft T-34 Air Force training plane carries with it a story of former owner General Chuck Boyd, who survived being a POW during Viet Nam. The aircraft has since been restored and in the Fly-in tradition it was in display mode so that others could gaze on its engine, cockpit and the craftsmanship that went into making this plane in the 1950's.

The Broxton Bridge staff cooked up a big breakfast for all to enjoy, and after an informal meeting takes place, most folks are keen to fire up their airplane engines and take off back into the sky to enjoy some more flying time. Many different makes of airplane are present and anyone attending can learn a lot about small plane aviation and witness their maneuverability.

Comfortable Bed and Breakfast accommodations

To view past blog entries on aviation click 2022 Fly-In at Coosaw Plantation - Wright Brothers / Kill Devil Hills  

Ultralight aircraft

2022 RBC Heritage - Jordan Spieth Wins

Jordan Spieth wins RBC Heritage on Easter Sunday

The golf calendar is back on schedule, and with the completion of The Masters, the PGA Tour's travel to nearby Hilton Head was right on par. No rain delays over the four days the tournament was fortunate, but the wild winds on Friday did affect play, but when each player is exposed to the same conditions this is when golf on a Pete Dye course is at its best. After a dramatic one-hole playoff on Sunday afternoon, Jordan Spieth won the Tartan Jacket over Patrick Cantlay, earning his 13th history on the PGA Tour.

To view past blog entries from the RBC Heritage click on 2021 - 2020- 2019 - 2018 - 2017 - 2016 - 2015- 2014 - 2013

To view past blog entries from The Masters click on 2019- 2015 - 2014 - 2013 - 2012 - 2009

To view past blog entries about the PGA Championship click on 2017 - 2012

To view past blog entries from the BMW Charity Web.com click on 2018 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 

2022 Oldfield Outfitters - Spring Birding Trip

Great Blue Heron nest with two babies

A group of Master Naturalists visited Oldfield Plantation to birdwatch along their Okatie River Trail. The first stop was a community garden located adjacent to the community gate, to learn about native plants and sustainable food sources, before carpooling to the birding trail. A brief talk by Leanna McMillan at the Outfitters HQ included how Oldfield has been endorsed by Audubon International as a wildlife friendly community. A saltwater fish tank made it easy for visitors to see what kind of fish are living in the Okatie River, and the view of the entire spartina marsh ecosystem is just outside their window.

Great-crested Flycatcher at a nesting cavity

The birding trail is situated right along the bank of the Okatie River and weaves behind private homes, along a golf course, and by several ponds. This bird walk was all business from the very first with a Prairie warbler stopping the group in their tracks, while it was willing to navigate low hanging branches. Oldfield resident and Master Naturalist Terry Cerisoles remarked that an old dead oak tree in front of us is a home for a family of raccoons. When we reached the duck pond, we saw two Great Blue Herons sitting on nests and one nest had two babies in it. More nesting was on display when we saw a brown-headed nuthatch and a great-crested flycatcher both using natural cavities for their home base. The natural world in Spring always offers a glimpse of critters busy with their instinctive drive to survive.

To view past blog entries about recent field trips click on 2022 Dolphin Head Beach - 2022 Bear Island WMA - 2022 Widgeon Point - 2022 Port Royal Sound Foundation / Nature Trail - 2022 Parris Island Birding - 2021 Palmetto Bluff Christmas Bird Count - 2021 Botany Bay WMA Birding - 2021 Tillman Sand Ridge- 2021 Nemours Plantation / Fall Birding - 2021 Coastal Exploration / South Fenwick Island - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Lighthouse and Beach - 2021 Hunting Island State Park / Wildlife Sightings - 2021 Coastal Exploration / Bennett's Point- 2021 Edisto Canoe and Kayak Commission - 2021 Congaree / Swamp Plants - 2021 Congaree - Swamp Critters - 2021 Furman University - 2021 Givhans Ferry State Park -  2021 Spring Island - Reptiles and Amphibians - 2021 Spring Island / Plants and Insects - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Wildlife - 2021 Fish Haul Beach / Vistas - 2021 Beidler Forest / Flora and Fauna - 2021 Beidler Forest - Name That Snake - 2021 Walterboro Wildlife Sanctuary - 2021 Nemours Plantation Birding 

Brown-headed Nuthatch with bug, utilizing a snag

Prairie Warbler poking through oak leaves

To view past Field Notes and Photos click January 2021 - July 2020-  June 2020 -  March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011 

Naturalist Leanna and her dog are on point

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird was found deceased