NABA Butterfly Count (CSRV, Aiken County, SC)
2023-07-08 09:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary, 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, SC, 29831, United States
On Saturday, July 8, 2023, NABA (North American Butterfly Association) will hold a butterfly count in the CSRV (Central Savannah River Valley) at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center in Jackson, South Carolina. Audubon’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary is a 3,400-acre woodland overlooking the Savannah River. Here you’ll find extensive pine forests and bottomland hardwood forests; beautiful walking trails; 50 acres of lakes and ponds; 100 acres of grassland; and all manner of birds, butterflies and wildlife. Refer to the website below for specific directions and additional information about Silver Bluff Sanctuary.
Meet at the Silver Bluff Audubon Visitor Center in Jackson, South Carolina. The GPS coordinates for the gate just outside the visitor center are 33.32451, -81.84501. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.
Important note: Using the street address, some GPS systems tell you that you’ve arrived one mile before you actually reach the Silver Bluff gates. At that point, Silver Bluff Road transitions from a paved road to a well-maintained sand/clay road. Continue driving for one more mile and you’ll see the gates on your right. As stated earlier, the GPS coordinates above are for the gate located just outside the visitor’s center.
On this same date, there will also be another group conducting the NABA count over on the Georgia side of the river. If anyone is interested in participating with this other group in Georgia, contact John Demko at the email address below for more information.

Loretta Lutman’s Home Butterfly Garden 2023 (Randolph County, NC)
2023-07-08 11:00 - 14:00 | Loretta Lutman Home Butterfly Garden, CONTACT LORETTA FOR THE ADDRESS
On Saturday, July 8, 2023, the Triad Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) has been invited to a butterfly walk at Loretta Lutman’s extensive private butterfly garden in Randolph County that has many nectar plants all around her house. In addition, she has installed her “blue garden,” a sculpture garden of butterfly images with blue being the dominant color. This is a beautiful addition to all her planted beds.
Loretta has previously stated, “The tour of my garden includes photos of what was once a scrubby wooded lot with no sun, to a full-fledged butterfly garden full of nectar plants with the surrounding woodlands supplying host plants. Around and in back of the house are several butterfly sculptures in the ‘blue’ garden. After your tour, sit a spell in the gazebo (with fans), view the garden, and enjoy butterflies, skippers, and the surprise goldfinches that come to forage on coneflower petals. Listen to the delightful sound of the waterfall sprinkler.”
As well as developing her own extensive butterfly garden, Loretta has spent many years as a volunteer working at the nearby NC Zoo in their butterfly gardening efforts. She also is the author of a scientifically accurate children’s book on the butterfly life cycle.
If you would like to attend, please contact Loretta Lutman at the email address below to RSVP and obtain her address (which, for privacy and security concerns, is not published here). If it happens to rain (banish the thought) on July 8, this walk will be rescheduled to July 15.

NC Western Mountains - BRP (near Asheville, NC)
2023-07-15 10:00 - 2023-07-16 17:00 | Bent Creek River Park, 1610 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC, 28806, United States
This is a Full CBS Walk to the western mountains of North Carolina that will explore several areas along and around the BRP (Blue Ridge Parkway) near Asheville, NC. We will meet both days at 10:00 at the Bent Creek River Park, at 1610 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806 (GPS coordinates 35.5015, -82.5931), which is located about 100 yards south of the traffic light at the BRP entrance ramp. This meeting location will be our first opportunity to look for butterflies and a good place to leave vehicles (for those who prefer to carpool).
The plan for Saturday is to caravan up Bent Creek to the BRP, travel south past Mount Pisgah to eventually make it to a USFS area called The Pink Beds. For Sunday we could drive further south along the BRP to higher elevations near Graveyard Fields and Black Balsam. Depending on the weather we may decide to go to the higher country on Saturday.
Saturday Proposed Route and Locations

Starting point @ Bent Creek River Park (address and/or GPS coordinates above).
Then 2.7 miles to Hard Times Trailhead.
Next, follow Bent Creek Gap Road for 4.8 miles to Bent Creek Gap to access the BRP.
Continue south on the BRP for 10 miles to Fryingpan Mountain Lookout tower.
Continue south on the BRP & Hwy 276, for 8 miles to the Pink Beds near the Cradle of Forestry.
There are two options for returning to the starting point. The first is going back the way we came. The other is to follow the gravel USFS Yellow Gap Road for 10 miles to the North Mills River Campground, then taking North Mills River Road and Hwy 191 back to Bent Creek River Park.

Sunday Proposed Route and Locations

Meet again at Bent Creek River Park (address and/or GPS coordinates above)
Drive south on the BRP 44 miles to Black Balsam Knob parking area.

Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Sparrel Wood will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact Sparrel at sparrel88@gmail.com if you plan on attending.
Following is a link to booking.com for lodging near the starting location.
The 10 best hotels near North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, United States of America (booking.com)

Gum Swamp Road and Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary (Aiken Co, SC)
2023-08-05 09:00 - 2023-08-06 15:00 | Kathwood Lakes parking area, 33.337279, -81.843453
This is a Full CBS Walk to areas near Aiken, South Carolina, to look for the Texan Crescent, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor and other summer butterflies. On Saturday, August 5, we will drive along Gum Swamp Road and stop at various locations along the road to explore areas of interest (or wherever we see butterflies). On Sunday, August 6, we will explore areas within the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary that are generally not open to the public. The gate to the lakes (see below for the location) will be open on Sunday at dawn if you want to do some birding before our butterfly walk.
We will meet both days at the Kathwood Lakes parking area (GPS coordinates 33.33728, -81.84345) of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary. We will leave some cars at this location and consolidate the number of vehicles. Kathwood Lakes is located on Silver Bluff Road just before the paved road turns to dirt and approximately 200 yards after crossing the railroad tracks coming south. Kathwood Lakes is the name Google Maps uses for the bodies of water at this location.
If you are coming from the north, Beech Island is the nearest place with bathrooms, places to eat and gas stations. If coming from the south, Jackson is the nearest place for these items. If coming from the east down Silver Bluff Road, (SC 302), Aiken will be the last town on your way. Jackson will be to your south on SC 125 if you need to stop just prior to the meeting spot.
No restrooms are available along Gum Swamp Road. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.
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Marie Poteat’s Property – Jamestown, NC
2023-08-12 09:30 - 12:00 | Marie Poteat’s Property – Guilford County, NC, 1111 Bales Chapel Rd, Jamestown, NC, 27282, United States
The Triad Chapter of CBS will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, August 12 to Marie Poteat’s property in Jamestown, NC. Of all the triad butterfly reports this year, Maries by far have had the most butterflies. In large part, this is because Marie has spent years reintroducing caterpillar host plants and butterfly nectar plants on what was once her family’s 70-acre+ working farm. For those interested in Monarch butterflies, she has more than 25 species of the milkweed host plants. This hard work has paid off. She probably has more butterfly species visiting and breeding on her property than any other location in Guilford County.
Marie said in an email:
Last year I had the most species of butterflies in mid August so I think we should plan for August 12 with August 19 as the second option depending on weather. Of course there is no guarantee of what we see, but there should be a lot of swallowtails, skippers, and some hairstreaks maybe.
I think the start time should be 9:30 so that we can have from 10:00-12:00 to look for butterflies before the main heat of the day.
Parking will be at 1111 Bales Chapel in Jamestown.
Note that there are no rest rooms available; be sure to make a “pit stop” in town before you continue to the Poteat property. In addition, you will have to bring everything you need including water, a snack, a folding chair, a butterfly field guide, and, if you have them, binoculars and a camera.
Marie is limiting the number of participants to about 10 – 12 people. If you want to join in on this butterfly walk, you MUST register by contacting Marie at the email address below.
Summary: Butterfly walk, 8-12-23, Marie Poteat Property, 1111 Bales Chapel, Jamestown, NC beginning at 9:30 a.m. Limited to 10-12 participants. YOU MUST REGISTER IN ADVANCE IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE!

NABA Count – Congaree National Park (Hopkins, SC)
2023-08-19 09:00 - 15:00 | Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061
On Saturday, August 17, 2023, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will participate in a NABA (North American Butterfly Association) count at Congaree National Park near Columbia, South Carolina, to look for seasonal butterflies.
Meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center (GPS coordinates 33.82984, -80.82343) where we will divide into smaller groups. Some groups will have longer areas to walk than others. Some of the trails will have roots and/or may be overgrown. There are no restaurants nearby. You do not have to be an expert to participate and may come for a whole or half day.
Refer to the national park website link below for additional information and maps of the property. If possible, bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. If you do not have binoculars, Congaree may be able to provide a set for the day. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Please register on the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you can help with this important count.

Salleyland - Late-Summer Butterflies (Salley, SC)
2023-08-27 10:00 - 15:00 | Salleyland, 2838 Firetower Rd, Salley, SC, 29137, United States
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at Salleyland near Salley, South Carolina, to look for late-summer butterflies. Please note that this is a Sunday walk.
Salleyland is an approximately 100-acre undeveloped (except for a small cabin) tract of land that includes a hardwood forest, a sandhills area, a stream and a swamp. Our host and Salleyland co-owner, Whit Gibbons, is a renowned naturalist and editor, author or co-author of more than 20 books. He also has written numerous articles that have been published in scientific journals.
We will meet at the Salleyland cabin. The address is 2838 Firetower Road, Salley, South Carolina, 29137 in Orangeburg County. GPS coordinates for the entrance to the access road that leads back to the cabin are 33.53716, -81.27444. Parking at the cabin is limited and the access road is difficult for low ground clearance vehicles.
Restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP or send any questions to Tom Austin at the email address below if you plan to participate.

CANCELLED - Etheredge Mill Pond – Aaron’s Skipper (North, SC)
2023-08-29 10:00 - 14:00 | Etheredge Mill Pond – North, SC, 33.62726, -81.04808
CANCELLED – After numerous recent scouting visits, no Aaron’s Skippers could be found. Consequently, this year’s walk has been CANCELLED! Here’s to hoping they’ll be back next year.
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at Etheredge Mill Pond near North, South Carolina, to look for Aaron’s Skipper fall brood and other late-season butterflies. Please note that this is a Tuesday walk. Locations of interest will be around the mill pond. At times, we will be walking along the fairly wide shoulders of paved roads.
Meet on the east side of Etheredge Mill Pond at the corner of Highway 178 / North Road and Highway 172 / Redmond Mill Road (GPS coordinates 33.62726, -81.04808) in the open area on the north side of Highway 178 and just to the west of Highway 172.
No restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Francis Marion National Forest (McClellanville, NE of Charleston, SC)
2023-09-09 10:00 - 2023-09-10 16:00 | Francis Marion NF McClellanville Circle K, 33.09514, -79.47558
SAVE THE DATES
This is a full CBS walk. Exact locations for butterflying within the FMNF (Francis Marion National Forest) will be determined after the NABA count the weekend before this scheduled CBS walk. We will go to the most productive areas in the FMNF based on NABA count results.
On Saturday, we will meet at the Circle K convenience store at the intersection of Highway 17 and Route 45 in McClellanville, SC (GPS coordinates 33.09514, -79.47558). Restrooms are available at this location. From there we will drive to the areas within the FMNF to butterfly. We will be on forest roads within the national forest. There is a fairly large area to explore so we will be driving to specific sites, parking and walking along the roadside, then driving to other areas to explore on foot. There are no facilities within the FMNF. The meeting location for Sunday will be determined at the end of the walk on Saturday.
Make sure to bring plenty of water, bug repellant and a lunch. You can attend either or both days. Please contact Alison Smith at the email address below if you plan to participate.

NABA Count – Congaree National Park (Hopkins, SC)
2023-09-16 09:00 - 15:00 | Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061
On Saturday, September 16, 2023, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will participate in a NABA (North American Butterfly Association) count at Congaree National Park near Columbia, South Carolina, to look for mid to late-season butterflies.
Meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center (GPS coordinates 33.82984, -80.82343) where we will divide into smaller groups. Some groups will have larger areas to explore than others. Some of the trails will have roots and/or may be overgrown. There are no restaurants nearby. You do not have to be an expert to participate and may come for a whole or half day. Please bring water, lunch, snacks, and if you have them, binoculars, a camera and field guide. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Refer to the national park website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Please RSVP to Theresa Yednoc at the email address below if you can help with this important count.

Reynolda Gardens 2023 (Winston-Salem, NC)
2023-09-23 09:30 - 12:00 | Reynolda Gardens, 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, United States
On Saturday, September 23, 2023, the Triad Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the FORMAL GARDENS area of Reynolda Gardens.
After the CBS walk through the formal gardens, attendees are welcome to stay a little longer and visit other areas of the 134-acre grounds. These other areas include two miles of scenic walking trails, wetlands, paved pathways, thick woodlands, an expansive meadow for visitors to explore and enjoy and a waterfall, located along the Reynolda Village trail. Refer to the website below for a map and additional information.
Meet at the garden entrance greenhouse at 100 Reynolda Village, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 (or for those who prefer GPS coordinates, 36.12564, -80.28474). Please RSVP to Barbara Cullen at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Pre-Symposium Walk - Timmerman Trail (Cayce, SC)
2023-10-06 14:00 - 16:30 | Timmerman Trail, 33.934482, -81.037010
This is a pre-symposium butterfly walk but anyone is welcome whether they plan on attending the symposium or not.
We will meet at the trailhead on Fort Congaree Trail (which is the road name). Take I-77 to exit 2, called 12th Street Extension, and turn onto Fort Congaree Trail. Drive past the Courtyard Hotel and the Lexington Tennis Center. The GPS coordinates are 33.9345, -81.0370 and there is a large area for parking on the left just before the trailhead. The beginning of this trail is paved. We will follow it for a short distance and then walk down Old State Road which is dirt.
No restrooms are available on the property. Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

2023 Symposium - Saluda Shoals Park (Columbia, SC)
2023-10-07 09:15 - 15:30 | Saluda Shoals Park Environmental Center, 34.04960, -81.18309
Come and join us for the Carolina Butterfly Society 2023 Symposium that will be held on Saturday, October 7 at Saluda Shoals Park, 5605 Bush River Road in Columbia, South Carolina. Check-in will be from 9:15 am to 9:45 am. Presentations will be from 9:45 am to 11:45 am and 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm with a break for lunch and a short butterfly walk around Saluda Shoals Park from 11:45 am to 1:30 pm. There is no cost to attend but if you would like to purchase a lunch using the Registration and Lunch Form below, there is a $15.00 charge. (Please note that lunch cannot be guaranteed if we do not receive your lunch form and payment by October 2).
Featured Presentations
Tips for Field Expedient Identification of the Intricate Satyr in Coastal SC – Tom Austin – Land Protection Specialist for the Edisto Island Open Land Trust
Sex, Salt, and the Single Butterfly – Carol Boggs Ph.D. – Professor & Director, School of the Earth, Ocean, & Environment, University of South Carolina
Native Plants that Attract Butterflies – Dennis Burnette – Retired Professor and Current Nature Educator
Where’s Waldo: What Species Do We Need to Search for in South Carolina? – Brian Scholtens Ph.D. – Professor of Biology, College of Charleston

Symposium Registration and Lunch Form – Copy and paste the following link into your browser of choice – https://www.carolinabutterflysociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Registration-and-Lunch-Form-2023.pdf
Please note: We are NOT providing single-use water bottles. Please bring your own water bottle and coffee cup. We will provide coffee, creamer, sugar, sweetener, morning snacks, sweet and unsweet tea, cups for tea, and ice. There are drinking fountains in the building where water bottles can be filled or refilled. Ice will be available for the tea and water.
Area Lodging – There are several choices at the intersection of I-20 and Bush River Road:
Doubletree by Hilton Best Western Inns and Suites
Quality Inns and Suites Sleep Inn Columbia
Other area hotels are also available.
Butterfly walks have also been planned for Friday, October 6, from 2:00 pm until 4:30 pm at Timmerman Trail in Cayce, SC, and Sunday, October 8, from 9:30 am until 2:30 pm at Wateree River HP and WMA in Eastover, SC.
Make plans now to bring a friend and join us.

Post-Symposium Walk - Wateree River HP and WMA (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2023-10-08 09:30 - 14:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
This is a post-symposium butterfly walk at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area but anyone is welcome whether they plan on attending the symposium or not. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy. The Southern Dogface has been seen consistently at this site.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.94949, -80.65303. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.94353, -80.65551) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the SCDNR website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

SI Group Hundred Acre Woods – Goatweed Leafwing (Orangeburg, SC)
2023-10-14 13:00 - 16:00 | SI Group, 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
TIME CHANGED (from 10:00am-3:00pm to 1:00pm-4:00pm)
DATE CHANGED (from September 30 to October 14)
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the SI Group Hundred Acre Woods in Orangeburg, South Carolina, to look for the Goatweed Leafwing (we believe there is an existing, ongoing colony) and other fall butterflies. There will be a short drive on an unpaved road to get to our staging point, and, after parking, we will walk around the property. This site was last visited in 2019.
There is a porta potty on site. Restaurants and gas stations are nearby. The walk will be on flat ground, but some field areas may be overgrown.
The address is 725 Cannon Bridge Road, Orangeburg, SC 29115 (GPS coordinates 33.465095, -80.884050). Traveling south on Cannon Bridge Road from Highway 301, go past the railroad crossing and come in the third entrance on the left just after the main parking lot area for the SI Group and just before the fenced-in electrical substation enclosure. After turning in, look to your right and follow the short dirt road, on the east side of the electrical substation enclosure, towards the tree line where we will meet and line up our cars. After everyone has arrived, a safety officer from the SI Group will lead the caravan of cars back to the Hundred Acre Woods parking area.
Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Diane Curlee, our trip organizer, at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Wateree River HP & WMA – Southern Dogface (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2023-10-21 10:00 - 16:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on October 21,2023 at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species is the Southern Dogface, but we will also be looking for other late-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.94949, -80.65303. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.94353, -80.65551) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Please RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

DATE CHANGE - Congaree Creek HP and Timmerman Trail (Cayce, SC)
2024-03-12 11:00 - 16:00 | Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve, 634 Old State Road, Cayce, SC, 29033, United States
DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECAST FOR SATURDAY, MARCH 9, THE DATE FOR THIS WALK HAS BEEN CHANGED TO TUESDAY, MARCH 12. Also, due to the expected low temperature Monday night, the start time has been moved back to 11:00 am (from 10:00 am).
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Tuesday, March 12, 2024. We will meet in the parking lot of Congaree Creek Heritage Preserve located at 634 Old State Road, Cayce, SC 29033 (GPS coordinates 33.9426, -81.0325). We will explore areas in and near part of the Heritage Preserve, along Old State Road and the Timmerman Trail. Our target species are Goatweed Leafwing, Falcate Orangetip and Elfins. Walking is easy and the distance is up to the participants.
There is a restroom at the Cayce Tennis Center on Fort Congaree Trail Road, but we will not be in that area until later in the day. Please register online at the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Eastover, near Columbia, SC)
2024-03-16 10:00 - 15:00 | Wateree River HP & WMA, 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC, 29044, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the 3,674-acre Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area. Our target species are Henry’s Elfin and Falcate Orangetip, but we will also be looking for other early-season butterflies as well. We will drive to various areas and walk some of the trails. Areas may be a little overgrown, but the walking is mostly on level ground and easy.
Meet at the first kiosk that is located on the right, about 0.45 miles along Goodwill Road after entering the property. GPS coordinates for the kiosk are 33.9495, -80.6530. The HP / WMA entrance is located at 15001 Goodwill Road, Eastover, SC 29044 (GPS coordinates 33.9435, -80.6555) on the north side of Garners Ferry Road, US Highway 378, just across from Goodwill Baptist Church.
No restrooms are available on the property. Refer to the SCDNR website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Either register on the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

Lake Brandt Marina - Falcate Orangetip (Greensboro, NC)
2024-04-06 10:00 - 15:00 | Lake Brandt Marina, 5945 Lake Brandt Road, Greensboro, NC, 27455, United States
The first outing of the Triad Chapter this year is on April 6th. We will meet at 10:00 am at the Lake Brandt Marina parking lot for up to a half-mile hike on the Reedy Creek Fork Trail. The address of the Marina is 5945 Lake Brandt Rd, Greensboro, NC 27455. A known colony of Falcate Orangetips have been observed there in the past.
For those who would enjoy a longer day, we will continue to the Arboretum in Greensboro. The Arboretum is approximately a fifteen-minute drive from the Marina. Please pack a bag lunch and beverage and we will eat at the Arboretum. The parking lot for the Arboretum is closed so we will be parking at the W. Market Street ballfields located at 3299 Starmount Drive, Greensboro, NC.
Please notify Bernyce Pritchard by April 1st at the email address below if you are planning to attend.

Kalmia Gardens and Cheraw State Park - Hessel's Hairstreak and Elfins (Hartsville, SC)
2024-04-06 11:00 - 16:00 | Kalmia Gardens, 34.3654, -80.1175, United States
START TIME CHANGED TO 11:00 am
We will begin the day at Kalmia Gardens. The address on their website is listed as 1624 West Carolina Avenue, Hartsville, SC 29550, but that is the mailing address for the building in the center of the gardens. We will meet in the parking lot; the entrance to the parking lot on West Carolina Avenue is located at GPS coordinates 34.36548, -80.11746. At Kalmia we will be looking for the stand of Atlantic White Cedar which is the host plant for Hessel’s Hairstreak.
After spending some time in and around the gardens, we will drive approximately 30 minutes to Cheraw State Park. Our target species at Cheraw are all the elfins and, again, Hessel’s Hairstreak.
Marty and Dave Kastner will lead this walk. Please RSVP to Marty at the email address below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

CANCELLED - Western North Carolina - Duskywings, Elfins, Hairstreaks
2024-04-20 10:00 - 2024-04-21 16:00
Due to the forecast for rainy weather all weekend, this trip has been CANCELLED.
This full CBS 2-day field trip will be held in western North Carolina where we will visit two different locations. Our target species will be Duskywings, Elfins, Hairstreaks, Cobweb Skipper and, if we’re lucky, possibly a “late” Olympia Marble. Pete Dixon will be our leader on both days.
The first day will be spent hiking on River Road and Polecat Hollow along the French Broad River outside of Hot Springs, NC. The meeting location is Broadwing Farm, 20 Berry Wills Road, Hot Springs, NC at 10:00 am. Park in front of the “event venue” building that’s located at 165 Broadwing Farm Lane, Hot Springs, NC (GPS coordinates 35.9008, -82.8291). Use the following link https://www.broadwingfarmcabins.com/the-farm/directions/ for additional information and specific directions from nearby cities. Hiking level is easy and there are restrooms a short distance away.
The second day will be spent visiting sites in the Sandy Mush Game Lands which has a diversity of early successional and managed grassland habitats and creek bottoms. The meeting location is the parking lot on Bear Creek Road near Marshall, NC at 10:00 am. There is no specific street address, but the parking lot entrance (GPS coordinates 35.7271, -82.7010) is located about 150 feet southwest of 2717 Bear Creek Road, Marshall, NC. The following Google Maps link https://maps.app.goo.gl/crkdKUBGcAwrNuXe9/ can also be used to view the parking lot location. Hiking trails are easy but there are some hills. Restrooms are not available.
For places to stay overnight, there are several rental cabins and B&Bs in the county and nearby. Mars Hill has a Comfort Inn, and there is a Fairfield Inn in Weaverville (Buncombe County). For something unusual, the old jail in Marshall is now a boutique hotel. Hot Springs has many short-term rental properties. Mars Hill, Marshall, Hot Springs, and Weaverville each have a variety of restaurants and brewery taprooms. Weaverville is about 40 minutes from Broadwing Farm; Marshall is about 25 minutes; Mars Hill is about 35 minutes. Hot Springs is about 5 minutes away. Obviously, there are many hotels and restaurants in Asheville, which would be another 10 to 30 minutes, depending on what area of Asheville you are in. If you want to try Hot Springs, check with Mary Helen Adamson for lodging at 828-206-7010 or visit the website at https://hotspringsnc.org/.
As indicated above, Pete Dixon, who can be reached at the email address listed below, is the leader for these field trips.

Sumter National Forest Long Cane District (Edgefield, SC)
2024-05-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area, 33.72642, -82.04029
We will walk Lick Fork Road, FS-634 to Horn Creek, and possibly Miller Branch Road. These are dirt roads with Prunella vulgaris and in some spots there are some relatives of Black-eyed Susans. We’ll meet in the Lick Fork Lake Recreation Area at the parking lot near the boat ramp. The GPS coordinates are 33.72642, -82.04029. There is a $3 per day self-pay parking fee for the area but this is only if you leave your car. We do not plan to start here so do not pay the fee. The fee is waived if you have the Federal “America the Beautiful” Pass as that covers Federal Recreation Areas as well as National Parks.
DIRECTIONS:

From I-20 get off at Exit 1 to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north until you see the sign to turn right for Lick Fork Creek Recreation Area. If you get to the SC 23 intersection with SC 230 you have gone just a tad too far (less than 0.5 miles).
If you are coming up SC 125 from the south, take it to Martintown Road (SC-230) and head north. You will go over I-20 and then follow the directions above.
From the square in downtown Edgefield, travel south on Hwy-23 for 8.3 miles. Bear left onto Hwy-230 and travel for 0.4 miles. Turn left onto Lick Fork Lake Road (S 19-263) and travel 1.9 miles. The entrance is on the right.

John Demko will lead. Please let him know in advance if you are coming. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. Call him at 803-761-3047 or email at jldemko@bellsouth.net if you plan on attending.

Black River Cypress Preserve, Swampside Tract (Andrews, SC)
2024-05-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Swampside Tract – Black River Cypress Preserve, 16368 County Line Road, Andrews, SC, 29510, United States
The Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will explore the Swampside Tract of Black River Cypress Preserve near Andrews, South Carolina. This preserve is privately owned and groups are admitted by appointment only. Please note that we need to have at least 6 people attend and each must sign a waiver upon arrival.
The Cypress Preserve offers a unique opportunity to experience some of North America’s most diverse and exotic ecosystems—from mysterious black water swamps and rivers to sparkling pine savannas. We will explore via winding hiking trails that feature interpretive signs and plaques, identifying the flora and fauna that have evolved in these landscapes over millennia.
We will meet in the parking lot near the main entrance. The preserve address is 16368 County Line Road (Hwy 41), Andrews, South Carolina, 29510. GPS coordinates for the preserve entrance that leads back to the parking area are 33.4988, -79.5341.
Restrooms are available on the property. Please RSVP or send any questions to Tom Austin at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Historic Bethabara Park (Winston-Salem, NC)
2024-05-18 14:00 - 17:00 | Historic Bethabara Park, 2147 Bethabara Road, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, United States
On Saturday, June 18, 2024, the Triad Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at the Historic Bethabara Park Butterfly Garden. The Bethabara Gardens are beautiful, historically significant places to explore. When the Moravians settled Bethabara in the early 1750s, one of the first things they established were the gardens. The Pollinator Garden was not planted by the Moravians, but this new garden preserves their tradition and values of respecting and understanding of the balance of nature. The entire park encompasses 183 acres of preserved wildlife, historic buildings and grounds, walking and birding trails, and protected wetlands but we will initially be exploring the garden listed above. Refer to the website below for a map and additional information.
The park address is 2147 Bethabara Road, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27106 (or for those who prefer GPS coordinates, 36.15470, -80.29618). Please RSVP to Bernyce Pritchard at the email address below if you plan to participate.

Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve & Sandhills Gamelands (NC)
2024-06-01 09:00 - 2024-06-02 15:00 | Weymouth Woods – Sandhills NP, 1024 N Fort Bragg Rd, Southern Pines, NC, 28387, United States
Saturday June 1, 2024 – Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve
We will meet at the Weymouth Woods Sandhills Nature Preserve Visitor’s Center at 9:00 a.m. The visitor’s center address is 1024 N Fort Bragg Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387 (with GPS coordinates listed on the website as 35.1470, -79.3715). The GPS coordinates for the entrance to the visitor’s center from N Fort Bragg Road are 35.14681, -79.37183.
This location offers a pleasant walk through stands of pine forests. Pathways are packed sand. We will likely visit the Paint Hill Tract while at Weymouth Woods, and if time allows, we may make a stop at Sandhills Community College.
Sunday June 2, 2024 – Sandhills Gamelands
We will meet at the BP gas station in Hoffman, NC at 9:00 a.m. The gas station address is 2183 Caddell Road, Hoffman, NC 28347 and the GPS coordinates are 35.02646, -79.55963.
From the gas station, we will venture in to the Sandhills Gamelands to explore the various sand roads, pine stands, creeks, and lakes to see what we can turn up. Road conditions in the Sandhills Gamelands can be tricky at times. The roads are sand and are fairly solid but after wet weather can be difficult.
Target species are the King’s and Edward’s Hairstreaks. Additional species commonly seen are Palamedes, Spicebush, and Tiger Swallowtails; Common Buckeyes, Eastern Tailed Blues and Azures, and assorted duskywings.
It is recommended that you bring additional snacks, food, and beverages as during the walks we will be away from public facilities. Wearing sturdy walking or hiking shoes is recommended along with long sleeves and pants as we may go off trail in some locations to look for as many butterfly species as possible. It is also recommended you use a good bug spray, wear sunscreen, and carry water with you. Be sure to bring those items you may need (camera, binoculars, field guides, etc.) to ensure a pleasant experience.
Rob Gilson, who can be reached at the email address listed below, is the leader for these field trips. Please either contact Rob or register on the CBS website if you plan on attending.

Pat Holder’s Home Butterfly Garden (Asheboro, NC)
2024-06-15 09:30 - 12:00 | Pat Holder Home Butterfly Garden, CONTACT PAT FOR THE ADDRESS
On Saturday, June 15, 2024, the Triad Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will hold a butterfly walk at Pat Holder’s native plant home butterfly garden in Asheboro, North Carolina. There will be safe parking on the side of the country road as well as a little parking in Pat’s driveway.
If you would like to attend, please contact Pat Holder at the email address below to RSVP and obtain her address (which, for privacy and security concerns, is not published here).

Super-Sod Farm and Surrounding Area – (Orangeburg, SC)
2024-06-15 10:00 - 15:00 | Super-Sod Farm, 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, SC, 29115, United States
The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will explore areas around and possibly inside the Super-Sod Farm in Orangeburg, South Carolina. Our target species is the Common Sootywing which has been recoded here in the past.
Meet at the Super-Sod office at 3086 Five Chop Road, Orangeburg, South Carolina, 29115. The GPS coordinates are 33.45936, -80.74331.
Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras, sunscreen, and bug spray. Long pants and close-toed shoes are recommended. Dennis Forsythe will lead. Please register on the CBS website or contact Dennis at dennis.forsythe@gmail.com if you can attend.

NABA Butterfly Count (CSRV, Aiken County, SC)
2024-07-06 09:00 - 15:00 | Silver Bluff Audubon Sanctuary, 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, SC, 29831, United States
On Saturday, July 6, 2024, NABA (North American Butterfly Association) will hold a butterfly count in the CSRV (Central Savannah River Valley) at the Silver Bluff Audubon Center in Jackson, South Carolina. Audubon’s Silver Bluff Sanctuary is a 3,400-acre woodland overlooking the Savannah River. Here you’ll find extensive pine forests and bottomland hardwood forests; beautiful walking trails; 50 acres of lakes and ponds; 100 acres of grassland; and all manner of birds, butterflies and wildlife. Refer to the website below for specific directions and additional information about Silver Bluff Sanctuary.
Meet at the Silver Bluff Audubon Visitor Center in Jackson, South Carolina. The GPS coordinates for the gate just outside the visitor center are 33.32451, -81.84501. The street address is 4542 Silver Bluff Road, Jackson, SC 29831. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.
Important note: Using the street address, some GPS systems tell you that you’ve arrived one mile before you actually reach the Silver Bluff gates. At that point, Silver Bluff Road transitions from a paved road to a well-maintained sand/clay road. Continue driving for one more mile and you’ll see the gates on your right. As stated earlier, the GPS coordinates above are for the gate located just outside the visitor’s center.

NABA Count – Congaree National Park (Hopkins, SC)
2024-07-20 09:00 - 15:00 | Congaree National Park, 100 National Park Rd, Hopkins, SC, 29061
On Saturday, July 20, 2024, the Midlands Chapter of CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) will participate in a NABA (North American Butterfly Association) count at Congaree National Park near Columbia, South Carolina, to look for mid-season butterflies.
Meet at the Harry Hampton Visitor Center (GPS coordinates 33.82984, -80.82343) where we will divide into smaller groups. Some groups will have larger areas to explore than others. Some of the trails will have roots and/or may be overgrown. There are no restaurants nearby. You do not have to be an expert to participate and may come for a whole or half day. Please bring water, lunch, snacks, and if you have them, binoculars, a camera and field guide. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.
Refer to the national park website link below for additional information and maps of the property. Please RSVP to Theresa Yednoc at the email address below if you can help with this important count.

Gum Swamp Road (Jackson, SC)
2024-08-04 09:00 - 15:00 | Kathwood Lakes (meeting location for Gum Swamp Road), 33.33728. -81.84345
This is a CBS Midlands Chapter outing to areas near Aiken, South Carolina, to look for the Texan Crescent, Tawny Emperor, Hackberry Emperor and other summer butterflies. Please note that this event is on Sunday, where we will drive along Gum Swamp Road and stop at various locations along the road to explore areas of interest (or wherever we see butterflies). The gate to the lakes (see below for the location) will be open at dawn if you want to do some birding before our butterfly walk.
We will meet at the Kathwood Lakes parking area (GPS coordinates 33.33728, -81.84345) of the Silver Bluff Audubon Center and Sanctuary. We will leave some cars at this location and consolidate the number of vehicles. Kathwood Lakes is located on Silver Bluff Road just before the paved road turns to dirt and approximately 200 yards after crossing the railroad tracks coming south. Kathwood Lakes is the name Google Maps uses for the bodies of water at this location.
If you are coming from the north, Beech Island is the nearest place with bathrooms, places to eat and gas stations. If coming from the south, Jackson is the nearest place for these items. If coming from the east down Silver Bluff Road, (SC 302), Aiken will be the last town on your way. Jackson will be to your south on SC 125 if you need to stop just prior to the meeting spot.
No restrooms are available along Gum Swamp Road. Please RSVP to John Demko at the email address below if you plan to participate.
