Tag Archives: Walk Difficulty: Easy

Reynolda Gardens 2025 (Winston-Salem, NC)

On Saturday, October 11, 2025, 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.

Marie Poteat’s Property (Jamestown, NC)

Please mark your calendars for our next butterfly outing on Saturday, August 23rd to Marie Poteat’s property in Jamestown, NC. Of all the triad butterfly reports this year, Marie by far has 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.

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 23rd. Of course, there is no guarantee of what we see, but there should be a lot of swallowtails, skippers, and some hairstreaks, maybe.”

The start time is 9:30 so 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 no restrooms are 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, and a butterfly field guide.

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 her: Marie Poteat <marie.poteat@gmail.com>

Summary: Butterfly walk, 8-23-25, 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!

Coastal North Carolina, Dare County (NC)

This full Carolina Butterfly Society 2-day field trip will be held in coastal North Carolina where we plan on visiting several different locations. Our target butterfly species varies by location and are listed below. The leaders are Harry LeGrand and Lori Arent.

Saturday, September 6, 2025 – Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge – Meet at the small parking lot on the left side of Pamlico Road, about 200 yards from US 264, which is on the south side of the Dare County mainland (GPS coordinates 35.6132, -75.83282). Meet at 10:00 am. This is near the southern end of the large loop of US 264, about 7-8 miles south of Stumpy Point. Note that Pamlico Road is a single-track gravel road, and thus parking along the road is likely impossible; even parking along or very close to US 264 might be tricky or unfeasible.

Targets: Palatka, Aaron’s, Berry’s, Yehl, Dion, Broad-winged, Twin-spot, Tawny-edged, and Carolina Roadside skippers.

We will have lunch in the field. There are no restrooms here. Depending on our time and success, whether the roadsides have been mowed, whether coastal storms have damaged the vegetation and the road, etc., we MAY make a short drive to a different site in the afternoon, on the northern side of US 264. That site has a different set of flowers — more Mistflower instead of the dominant Bitter Sneezeweed at Pamlico Road. If the roadsides have not been mowed or otherwise impacted, the target species are about the same; there is a higher chance (but still iffy) of Berry’s Skipper here, but less chance for brackish marsh species like Aaron’s Skipper. Just before the end of the day, we plan a brief stop to check the Lantanas at the Roanoke Island Visitor Center.

Sunday, September 7, 2025 – Various sites on the Dare County Outer Banks in the Kill Devil Hills, Duck, and Southern Shores areas; and perhaps also including a long drive to central mainland Currituck County – Meet at the large parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement, in the corner closest to US 158 and West Landing Drive (GPS coordinates 36.02594, -75.66886), in Kill Devil Hills. Meet at 9:00 am. The turn off US 158, the main north-south highway on the Banks, is the first major road to the west after passing the Wright Brothers National Memorial if driving from the south. If driving from the north, Lowe’s is just before you reach the Memorial.

Targets: Dukes’ Skipper, Eastern Giant Swallowtail, Brazilian Skipper.

At the meeting place, we will need to review what uncommon/rare species have been recently seen in the area, as this information will determine where we visit. We hope to find Dukes’ Skipper in the Duck area, as a few were seen in late July or early August and have been seen there years ago as well. If missed there, some or many folks may want to make the rather long drive to central Currituck County, where a rather large colony of Dukes’ Skipper has been seen in September in the past few years. We expect to visit a few gardens and other plantings in the Duck area to search for the Giant Swallowtail and the rare and sporadic Brazilian Skipper, and other species.

Lunch will presumably be in the field, but as there are numerous fast-food restaurants along US 158, with restrooms. Details for Sunday afternoon are wide open and will be determined by the successes of the morning.

For lodging, most of you have hopefully already made motel/hotel reservations, as this trip was announced in late winter or early spring. Certainly, lodging on the Outer Banks, and less so at Manteo on Roanoke Island, is expensive in early September, and many or most of these may well be already booked completely.

As stated previously, Harry LeGrand and Lori Arent will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Harry at hlegrandjr@gmail.com or Lori at ljarent1@gmail.com 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.

CLOSED – Pre-Symposium Walk – Mason Farm Biological Reserve (Chapel Hill, NC)

CLOSED – We have had an overwhelming response to this year’s symposium and must close registrations due to resource limitations.

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 parking lot at Mason Farm Biological Reserve trailhead. There is no street address, but the GPS coordinates are 35.89233, -79.01647. The walking loop is about 2 miles or so and is flat. The trail winds through several habitats including hardwood forest, mixed pine forest, open fields, and has a nice boardwalk section through a wetland. Approximately 60+ species of butterflies have been tallied here over the years and seasons. Of course, we will probably not have that diversity in September, but it’s still a nice walk. Jeff Pippen will lead.

No restrooms are available on the property. Please bring water, snacks (or a late lunch), binoculars, cameras and field guides. Sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Directions – From the north, drive to Finley Golf Course Road in Chapel Hill. Drive around the Finley Golf Club clubhouse and parking lot and past the driving range. Directly after the driving range at the power lines, take the right fork onto Mason Farm Acc Road (which passes under the power lines). After about 0.38 miles, turn to the right on the gravel access road to the creek, then drive over the concrete ford (which always has at least some water flowing over it, but should be passable). The trailhead parking lot is just to the south of the creek.

Please use the symposium registration form if you are attending the symposium and plan to participate. If you are NOT attending the symposium, you can register for this walk online at the CBS website or RSVP to Marty Kastner at kastners@aol.com.

Historic Bethabara Park (Winston-Salem, NC)

On Saturday, May 24, 2025, 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.

Wateree River HP & WMA (Columbia City Nature Challenge – Eastover, SC)

The Carolina Butterfly Society Midlands Chapter will hold a butterfly walk on Sunday, April 27, 2025 which will be in conjunction with the Columbia City Nature Challenge. It is our local part of City Nature Challenge, an international four-day competition where cities across the globe compete to record the biodiversity of their urban and surrounding areas. We will focus on butterflies, but all nature entries on iNaturalist will count.

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, almost across from Goodwill Baptist Church.

No restrooms are available on the property. Dave and Marty Kastner will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or 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. Let’s have a big turnout!!!

See the website link below for hiking trails and other information about the Wateree River Heritage Preserve and Wildlife Management Area.

CANCELLED – Sumter NF Long Cane District (Edgefield, SC)

CANCELLED – Due to the forecast for rainy and overcast weather all weekend, this trip has been “officially” CANCELLED.

The Carolina Butterfly Society will hold butterfly walks on Saturday and Sunday, May 10 and 11, 2025, at the 123,360-acre Long Cane District of the Sumter National Forest in the Lick Fork Lake and Stevens Creek Heritage Preserve areas. Our target species are Tawny-edged Skipper and Twin-spotted Skipper, as well as other early-season butterflies. Prunella vulgaris should be blooming.

On Saturday, meet at the Lick Fork Creek parking lot on Lick Fork Creek Road, GPS coordinates 33.7298, -82.0407. 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. The Sunday meeting location will be determined after the Saturday walk.

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.

There are bathrooms near the meeting area. There is no cell service in the areas we will be exploring. John Demko will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to John 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.

Fort Macon SP, Croatan NF, Holly Shelter Game Land (NC)

This full Carolina Butterfly Society 2-day field trip will be held in eastern North Carolina where we plan on visiting three different locations. Our target butterfly species varies by location and are listed below. The leader is Harry LeGrand and possibly Lori Arent.

Saturday, April 12, 2025: Meet at Fort Macon State Park, at the Coastal Education Center parking lot at the end of East Fort Macon Rd, Atlantic Beach, NC (GPS coordinates 34.6977, -76.6787). Meet at 10:00 am. Target species is Crystal Skipper, which should be easy; not many other species are present at this time of year here; Henry’s Elfin (unlikely). Probably eat lunch at the visitor center, outside on benches. Restrooms are available inside the visitor center. (They are not available in Croatan, so best to eat and use the restroom here.)

After lunch, we will travel to several sites in Croatan National Forest, such as Millis Road in Carteret County, and then much farther north to Little Road in Craven County. Millis Road and Little Road are gravel but should be fine for about all vehicles.

Target species are Carolina Roadside-Skipper, Lace-winged Roadside-Skipper, Intricate Satyr, and Holly Azure. Little field work occurs in the forest in spring, and few flowers are blooming then, so we have little previous data here for April. Thus, expectations are low but hopes are high!

Sunday, April 13, 2025: Holly Shelter Game Land. Meet at the eastern end of the Topsail Baptist Church parking lot, closest to the entrance road to the game land, on US 17 (GPS coordinates 34.4099, -77.6571). Meet at 10:00 am. This is about 4 miles northeast of Hampstead. Note that there is another church immediately to the southwest, on the same side (north) of the highway. Obviously, don’t park there; park at the church lot at Topsail church where you can literally see the entrance road to the game land. As this is a Sunday, there likely will be some churchgoers parking in the lot closer to the church anyway.

It may well be a bit too early and “dewy”/cool to start butterflying, so be prepared to look for birds such as Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow, and look for wildflowers and carnivorous plants, until things warm up. We will carpool here, as the gravel/dirt roads are usually fine for most vehicles but occasionally there are sandy places or wet spots in the road.

Target species (all formerly regular but now may be difficult) are Frosted Elfin, Yucca Giant-Skipper, Reversed Roadside-Skipper, Dusky Roadside-Skipper. Other targets are Dusted Skipper, Holly Azure. It might be slightly early for Little Metalmark, which is regular by late April. We will have lunch in the field. There are no restrooms here (or in Croatan). The gate is “always” open in April but is closed from May to about Labor Day; this helps deter Venus Flytrap poaching. So, yes, we may well look for flytraps here, but they won’t be in bloom.

There are many motels in Jacksonville, which is a good midway point between these two trips. Of course, people may want lodging the day before in the Morehead City or Havelock areas, or the Wilmington area after Holly Shelter.

As stated previously, Harry LeGrand will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Harry 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.

Southern 8ths Farm & Cheraw SP (Chesterfield Co., SC)

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, tentative plans are for Tom Austin to lead a second-day SCAN trip to a new Southern 8ths property from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Brad Turley, the Southern 8ths Farm owner, is in the process of buying land in Chesterfield County, adjacent to Cheraw State Park, located roughly at GPS coordinates 34.6604, -79.8907. He is interested in getting some eyes on that property while we’re in the area. A specific meeting location will be provided later.

Afterwards, those who wish can head over to Cheraw State Park in Patrick, SC on Society Hill Road. The GPS coordinates for the meeting location are 34.6196, -79.9452. The target species are Brown Elfin, Henry’s Elfin, Hessel’s Hairstreak and Great Purple Hairstreak. There is also an option, if time permits and there is interest, to go to Carolina Sandhills NWR to look for Frosted Elfin. Walking is off trail and easy.

There are no restroom facilities. Tom Austin will lead the Southern 8ths walk and Dave and Marty Kastner will lead the Cheraw State Park walk and, if we go, Carolina Sandhills NWR walk. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Tom or Marty at one of the email addresses below if you plan to participate. Please bring water, lunch, binoculars, cameras and field guides. For any of these walks, sunscreen, bug spray, long pants and close-toed shoes are highly recommended.

Southern 8ths Farm (Chesterfield, SC)

On Saturday, March 22, 2025, there will be a joint field trip between CBS (Carolina Butterfly Society) and SCAN (South Carolina Association of Naturalists). The trip leader for both groups will be Tom Austin, President of CBS and Database Manager for SCAN, and staff from Southern 8ths Farm. Southern 8ths Farm staff will escort us throughout the property. Southern 8ths Farm is a private conservation property and the home of the Carolina Wildlands Foundation. Southern 8ths Farm is located on the SC/NC border primarily in Chesterfield County, SC with a portion of the property extending into Anson County, NC. The property sits on Thompson Creek in an ecoregional and geological boundary straddling the fall line just above the Sandhills. This unique geology has birthed a rich diversity of native plant communities and Coastal Wildlands Foundation has done extensive work to restore prairie habitat across the property. CBS is working with Southern 8ths Farm to help them create an introductory field guide on their butterfly diversity for their outreach and education programs.

Target Species include: Common Sootywing, Falcate Orangetip, Orange Sulphur, Clouded Sulphur, Harvester, and Southern Skipperling. CBS is working with Southern 8ths Farm to catalogue and document as many butterfly species as we can on the property. So, an emphasis for the day will be placed on adding news species to the site’s biodiversity list in addition to surveys for target species.

Learn More about Southern 8ths Farm and the Carolina Wildlands Foundation at the website listed below. A video about Thompson Creek and the geology of the region can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/1002041941

There are restrooms on site. On-site camping is permitted. There are 10 RV pads available on site with power hook-ups (no wastewater) and the ability for on-site camping. There are two guest rooms available at Southern 8ths Farm, which can be rented for $149/night. (Contact Southern 8ths Farm directly to reserve.) The nearest hotels are 20-30 miles away in Cheraw SC, Rockingham NC, and Monroe NC.

As previously stated, Tom Austin will lead. Either register on the CBS website (using the “Register” link above) or RSVP to Tom 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.

Participants will need to sign a waiver with Carolina Wildlands Foundation in order to participate.