A Quick Getaway...

I took a chance while the weather was good for a midweek trip.   I made a plan for the dogs to be fed, and left at 6 am the following morning...I drove to Santee Coastal Reserve, the same place I grabbed my lifer Hudsonian Godwit a couple years ago.  They have a free FCFS campground and I scored a great spot. 

Also a couple years back I purchased this little easy to pitch tent as a place holder for just such an occasion, when  I want to drive my van to a trail head, so need something to show the spot is occupied...so this worked out really well...took 5 mins to set up!

This is the first trip with my raised ceiling and it is really nice to be standing up in the van...I had a really good stay...After I got settled in I took off for my first hike, on the Marshland Trail and  boardwalk...

I began to hear warblers....AND realized I have to relearn their calls this happens nearly every spring now...my memory just isn't as good as it once was...

It was still early I arrived at the campground at 9 am so birds were singing, and I didn't get my eyes on a lot but sure enjoyed the experience.  The White Breasted Nuthatch once again...made an appearance. 

And there was a lot of Red Headed Woodpecker..

I am a little early for most of the shorebirds to arrive which I had hoped to see more of...The Carolina Wren sang for me...

 I'm hoping  that spring is arriving and I can get in some camp/bird adventures before the onset of heat and bugs...

Then back at my campsite to shed a couple layers of clothing before my next hike  I had the Brown Thrasher and the White Throated Sparrow in my camp site...hunting together...

I dumped my extra coat, and changed into my waterproof boots, and prepared to move the van to the Big Wells Trailhead.  Well, come to find out they had the road closed to the trail head, you can park at the HG building and walk in so that's what I did..

Tri colored Heron

I found some Blue Winged Teal, and Common Gallinule together behind the reeds in the open water.  

And this Little Blue Heron was sneaking around in the edges looking for minnows and snails etc...

This place if very similar to most of the Low Country Wildlife management areas, and used to be old rice fields, impounds where they can manipulate the water level by using a series of rice trunks which have been in operation for 250 years, take a look at this video if you want to know about these.  

Big Wells Trail with Santee River to the right

Unfortunately for me, they were busy cutting the brush and doing scheduled burns it was mid week and so I should have thought of that but then on a weekend I may not get a campspot and it could be crowded with hunters....so either way it's a crapshoot. 

 with so much activity going on the birds were few...

Saw a lot  of Yellow Legs in the shallow areas and some Wilson Snipes took off...

got this far away look as the snipe circled me...then landed in the reeds again...

It's easier to see Red Winged Blackbird  and Killdeer. 

I needed a drink and reached around to get my water bottle from my backpack pocket, Wasn't there...dang.  I was pretty thirsty but not a lot I could do about that, I must of lost it.

Overhead 3 White Pelican gave me a flyby,,

Here is the work going on at the boat dock...this is why the road is closed to the trail head....they are using the trailhead parking for a staging area.

So I circled around and headed back to the HQ parking lot making a loop by using the road that runs behind the HQ building, by now it  was after 1 pm so I was getting tired and hungry and thristy!  Back at the van, look at this....on the ground.

I lost my water bottle ONE step from the van, LOL I had to laugh and was also happy to find  it, but really?? I never knew it had fallen.   So then I went back to my campsite and made a sandwich and sat in my chair for an hour, drank up some liquid..and watched the birds move around in the bushes...

I forgot to pack a PLATE so I put my sandwich on the lid of my Thermos, I really did a poor job of packing.  I normally make a list and pack from that...any veer off course can be a disaster these days, I also forgot to bring any paper towel, all my toiletries including my toothbrush!  

campsite  Mockingbird

I decided to go in an lay down for a little foot rest, as it had gotten warm so I figured to let the sun move a little then head out again when there was more shade.  I met the man in the  site down from me, there was only 3 of us camping...he had a cute dog with him made me miss my girls.  

So after a rest I put my regular shoes back on for the drier road-walk toward the other ponds...along the Cape Trail ..

 

Turns out this is where the burns are happening...

Last time I was here this area was full of shorebirds...but this time I saw lots of this...

And no birds...nary a one,....so I turned around.... the moon was up by then and 3 Double Crested Cormorants flew over..

I did a little edit to combine the moment.

Back near the road to Big Wells, 

 Belted Kingfisher came out to hunt from the power line...

A Lesser Yellowlegs was out wading knee high...

I eventually arrived back at camp about 4:30 pm and the sun was moving behind the trees and the  air cooled off so I heated up some canned soup for a hot meal and took it inside out the chilled air  

Had to eat right out of the pan, forgot to bring a bowl either!! It was good to have a warm meal...I brought my chair in for siting with my dinner and to  check my photos, I plan to try and do a swivel on my passenger seat some day.  I see others do it, so figure I can as well. 

After eating, took the tent down,  stowed my stuff for the evening, I was ready to call it a day by 5:30ish.  My camp neighbor and his dog made a big fire for the night so I closed up the van not wanting to get the smoky smell in my upholstery...I also forgot to bring any books for reading and didn't bring my DVD player, I dumped  my camera SD card, and turned in  as it was dark by 6 pm.   I threw up the blind by one of the big windows and lay there looking up at the starry night.  It was a good day!!

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to be continued....

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.

Local Patch checks..

On Sunday  the 21st, another gorgeous day happened a little breezy and cold so I figured my old stand by Sandhills would be good I can warm up when needed in the van.  I decided to spent my time at Martin's lake area...So first I stopped at the far end and walked down to the dam.   Along the way I pass the Holdover Pond, which lately for some reason has not been a pond.  But more like a mud puddle area.  And I found it with this weird stuff on it, no clue what this is. Here a Song Sparrow is perched above it. 

It was very curious....the birds didn't seem to mind whatever it is I hope it's not toxic....it can't be a spider unless its one of that escaped from Jurassic Park. 

Eastern bluebird was successfully finding food on the edges...

They have recently cut the fields back and they may be planning a burn...

Im heading to the lake in the distance but of course I find birds along the way....this little White Breasted Nuthatch was reminding me of what a chattery call they have.

He runs up and down the trunk of the tree gleaning insects from under the edges of the bark...

His back is so blue, a really gorgeous bird. 

I hear the trilling call of the Pine Warbler, they are everywhere right now...just look up and you will probably see one...

Never tire of them 

As I get closer to the lake, and scare off a few Killdeer...

The mowers left some stems  in place and the Eastern Phoebe perches to have a look for insects..

These Northern Mockingbirds, seem to be a couple...defending this one willow tree...

And not far from them in the heavier cover was several Swamp Sparrow, one of my favorite sparrows, they are so colorful out in the sun. 

Then I spied a nest from last year....no clue what bird made it. 

And finally I arrive lake side...Im the only human there, so Im free to ramble, take my time and act as weird as I wish. I can talk to myself, stop and turn in circles, look up at trees, and make weird noises with no one to judge. 

BY the dam there was a lot of action I think the sun reflected warmth back up off the cement spillway.  

The Northern Cardinal looking more Orange than red today...

this little cove area by the dam is protected from the breeze the water was pretty awesome. 

There was a few Canadians out swimming around..

More willows near the lake edge had Field Sparrow another one of my favorite Sparrows, in fact I love sparrows.  

More Song and Swamp Sparrow

Then before you know it a couple hours had passed....so headed back to the van to warm up and had a snack then headed to the Photo blind,  while peering out one of the openings, I heard a little cooing sound...def an Eastern Screech Owl was nearby so I followed the sound to this Wood Duck box.  There was some vegetation in the way but I saw the owl he was sunning in the entrance to the box...

Could just make him out in there with one sleepy eye closed ...what a great surprise,
the red morph. 

My last good thing of the day leaving the park I spotted  not one but 3 Red Cockaded Woodpeckers  up pretty high but I got a shot of one of them...

Had a great time...then on Monday I checked out Goodale Lake before I ran errands in town.  

Hiked the Lake Trail 

It was good to see some Mallard there and who knows, maybe a nesting can happen? 

Along the trail still many Ruby Crowned Kinglets making a fuss as I pass by them..

And the perfect ending to a nice walk around the lake before other people began to stir was seeing this immature Bald Eagle, soar overheard,  

It was a good start to the last week of February. Since the birding is picking up I am making a mid week post so I don't get too far behind with my chronicles.  Have a great week. 

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.