October 10, 1996
Dear SCAN members,
What a great trip we had to Dewees Island, Honey Hill Campground, and the Sewee Shell Midden! On Saturday we went by ferry to Dewees Island in Charleston County, privately-owned and never before visited by SCAN, where we all saw a lovely pink Roseate Spoonbill, a new bird for many, and always an unusual sighting in South Carolina. A Peregrine Falcon, also uncommon, was found resting on the beach quite close to the observers. the island included Atlantic beach with shells and crabs, marshland facing the bay, inland lagoons, and homes constructed with minimal impact on the maritime forest, and we had ample time to enjoy most of it.
Those camping at Honey Hill Campground in Francis Marion National Forest in Berkeley County saw swarms of termites emerging just after dawn from three half buried pieces of wood in impressive white clouds; the phenomenon lasted only a few minutes before all the termites had flown away to mate.
On Sunday we visited another site new to SCAN, the Sewee Shell Midden near Awendaw in Francis marion National Forest in Charleston County, where intriguing plants were found growing on the circle of oyster shells built by native Americans hundreds of years ago. These plants are found there because dissolved lime from the shells make the soil alkaline: Shell-mound Shrub, Sageretia minutiflora, and Eupatorium incarnatum. In the normal soil away from the mound were many flowers still blooming. A hickory Horned Devil caterpillar nearly 6 inches long with orange horns posed for photographers. Noteworthy flying fauna included another peregrine falcon, immature bald eagle, Monarch butterflies, and lots of salt march mosquitoes. Dee Hope, our Southern Regional Director, put this trip together, for which we extend our thanks and appreciation.
Come join us on the next rip to still another destination new to SCAN, the Rock Hill Blackjacks Heritage Preserve (details elsewhere in this newsletter).
Your President,
Jan Ciegler
BIRD FEEDER VISITOR: SCAN members are creative when it comes to finding ways to view wildlife. If you are mostly housebound, as are Pam and Howard Spencer these days, you set up feeders to bring the birds to you. Since they have access to large animal remains (son Crispin is a research vet), Pam and Howard feed vultures at their new home in Gainesville, FL. Recently they were visited by a more exciting scavenger…an adult bald eagle. It cautiously approached a backbone, eventually seizing it with one foot while ripping off meat with its beak. After about 30 minutes of feeding it flew off, but they are hoping it will return frequently. Not many of us can top that in our backyard!
ROCKHILL BLACKJACKS HERITAGE PRESERVE
OCTOBER 26, 1996Our October 26th field trip will take us to York County and the Rockhill Blackjacks Heritage Preserve. This 160 acre preserve is forested with blackjack oaks in glades where the soil is thin over gabbro rock. Granite outcrops with vernal pools similar to Forty Acre Rock are also on the preserve. There is a very diverse flora including the endangered sunflower, Helianthus schweinitzii, which should still be in bloom. There are no marked trails, so to get the flavor of the site we will walk in the open along a mowed right of way where the sunflower in found, then double back and go into the woods near the cars and on to the granite outcrops.
Meet (to be ready to start walking at 10:30 a.m. as usual) at the end of the street at the star on the map. We will be parking in front of occupied homes, so be considerate when you park. Insects are plentiful, so use repellant; plan to carry lunch and beverage. Many of us will go find a congenial restaurant at the end of the day. Why not plan to join us before you head home?
Directions: From Columbia, take I-77 north to SC 901 (Exit 73). Follow 901 north toward Rock Hill. After you pass Taylor’s Creek, a power line and a small subdivision, look for Glenarden Road. Turn right onto Glenarden and follow it until it deadends.
From Rock Hill, take SC 901 south for approximately 1/2 mile. Look for Glenarden Road on the left. Turn left onto Glenarden and follow it until it deadends.
Dewees Island Charleston County, SC
September 28, 1996
FLORA
Crustose Lichen
Graphina xylophaga
Graphis anfractuosa
Graphis lineola
Phaeographis inusta
Foliose Lichen
Myriotrema sp.
Crustose Lichen
Pertusaria texana
Pertusaria valliculata
Lecanora cupressi
Lecanora varia
Lecanora caesiorubella glaucomodes
Ochrolechia africana
Loxospora cismonica
Foliose Lichen
Parmotrema perforatum
Parmotrema praesorediosum
Parmotrema tinctorum
Canoparmelia caroliniana
Punctelia rudecta
Fruticose Lichen
Ramalina willeyi
Foliose Lichen
Dirinaria picta
Physcia aipolia
Physcia americana
Pyxine caesiopruinosa
Crustose lichen
Rinodina exigua
Rinodina sp.
Amandinea punctata
Arthonia quintaria
Lecanactis epileuca
Foliose Lichen
Cresponia sp.
Crustose Lichen
Opegrapha atra
Chrysothrix sp.
Bracken
Pteridium aquilinum
Resurrection Fern
Polypodium polypodioides
Pine
Pinus sp.
Eastern Red-cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Southern Red-cedar
Juniperus silicicola
Common Cat-tail
Typha latifolia
Salt Grass
Distichlis spicata*
Purple Top
Tridens flavus
Sand Grass
Triplasis purpurea
Sea Oats
Uniola paniculata
Finger Grass
Chloris petraea
Cord Grass
Spartina patens
Smooth Cord Grass
Spartina alterniflora
Giant Foxtail Grass
Setaria magna
Sandspur
Cenchrus tribuloides
Cenchrus sp.
Barnyard Grass
Echinochloa sp.
Seaside Panic Grass
Panicum amarum
White-bracted Sedge
Dichromena colorata
Fimbristylis spadicea
Cabbage Palmetto
Sabal palmetto
Spanish Moss
Tillandsia usneoides
Black Needle Rush
Juncus roemerianus
Fringed Greenbrier
Smilax bona-nox
Mound-lily Yucca
Yucca gloriosa
Beargrass
Yucca filamentosa filamentosa
Black Willow
Salix nigra
Wax Myrtle
Myrica cerifera
Live Oak
Quercus virginiana
Water Oak
Quercus nigra
Willow Oak
Quercus phellos
False Nettle
Boehmeria cylindrica
Polygonum sp.
Mexican-tea
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Glasswort
Salicornia sp.
Russian Thistle
Salsola kali
Pokeweed; Pokeberry
Phytolacca americana
Southern Magnolia
Magnolia grandiflora
Red Bay
Persea borbonia
Sea Rocket
Cakile sp.
Dewberry
Rubus trivialis
Beggar Lice
Desmodium sp.
Bush Clover
Lespedeza sp.
Sesbania exaltata
Butterfly Pea
Centrosema virginianum
Hercules’-Club
Zanthoxylum clava-herculis
Silverleaf Croton
Croton punctatus
Chinese Tallow Tree
Sapium sebiferum
Poison Ivy
Rhus radicans
Winged Sumac
Rhus copallina
American Holly
Ilex opaca
Yaupon
Ilex vomitoria
Muscadine
Vitis rotundifolia
Pepper-vine
Ampelopsis arborea
Seashore Mallow
Kosteletskya virginica
St. Andrew’s Cross
Hypericum hypericoides
Rockrose
Helianthemum sp.
Passion Flower; Maypops
Passiflora incarnata
Prickly Pear
Opuntia compressa
Cuphea carthagensis
Marsh Pennywort
Hydrocotyle umbellata
Dune Pennywort
Hydrocotyle bonariensis
Buckthorn
Bumelia tenax
Polypremum procumbens
Blue Vervain; Verbena
Verbena braziliensis
Fog Fruit
Lippia nodiflora
Beauty-berry
Callicarpa americana
Blue Curls
Trichostema dichotomum
Wood Sage; Germander
Teucrium canadense
Dotted Horsemint
Monarda punctata
Bacopa monnieri
Gerardia
Agalinis sp.
Bluet; White Houstonia
Houstonia procumbens
Creeping Cucumber
Melothria pendula
Marsh Elder
Iva frutescens
Beach Elder
Iva imbricata
Ragweed
Ambrosia artemisiifolia
Dog-fennel
Eupatorium compositifolium
Climbing Hempweed
Mikania scandens
Camphorweed
Pluchea purpurascens
Rabbit Tobacco
Gnaphalium obtusifolium
Sea-Myrtle; Groundsel Tree
Baccharis halimifolia
Baccharis sp.
Horseweed; Hogweed
Erigeron canadensis canadensis
Salt-marsh Goldenrod
Solidago sempervirens
Camphorweed
Heterotheca subaxillaris
Sea Ox-eye
Borrichia frutescens
Varnish Shelf
Ganoderma curtisii
FAUNA
Sea Whip
Leptogorgia virgulata
Knobbed Whelk
Busycon carica
Channeled Whelk
Busycon canaliculatum
Common Slipper Snail
Crepidula fornicata
Flat Slipper Snail
Crepidula plana
Marsh Periwinkle
Littorina irrorata
Lettered Olive
Oliva sayana
Southern Moon Snail
Polinices duplicatus
Oyster Drill
Urosalpinx cinerea
Calico Scallop
Aequipecten gibbus
Giant Atlantic Cockle
Dinocardium robustum
Transverse Ark
Anadara transversa
Angel Wing
Cyrtopleura costata
False Angel Wing
Petricola pholadiformis
Campeche Angel Wing
Pholas campechiensis
Jingle Shell
Anomia simplex
Sea Pen
Atrina sp.
Florida Coquina
Donax variabilis
Cat’s Paw; Kitten’s Paw
Plicatula gibbosa
Channeled Duck Clam
Raeta plicatella
Stout Tagelus
Tagelus plebeius
Disk Shell
Dosinia discus
Atlantic Razor Clam
Ensis directus
Eastern Oyster
Crassostrea virginica
Winged Pearl Oyster
Pteria colymbus
Spiny Feather-duster Worm
Hydroides dianthus
Purse Crab
Persephona punctata
Lady Crab
Ovalipes ocellatus
Ghost Crab
Ocypode quadrata
Mud or Marsh Fiddler Crab
Uca pugnax
Sand Fiddler Crab
Uca pugilator
Five-holed Keyhole Urchin
Mellita quinquiesperforat a
Jumping Spider
Phidippus audax
Field Cricket
Gryllus sp.
Lovebug*
Plecia nearctica
Four-spotted Pennant
Brachymesia gravida
Seaside Dragonlet
Erythrodiplax berenice
Common Whitetail
Libellula lydia
Wandering Glider
Pantala flavescens
Black-mantled Glider
Tramea lacerata
Roseate Skimmer
Orthemis ferruginea
Rambur’s Forktail Damselfly
Ischnura ramburii
Tiger Beetle
Cicindela punctulata
Palmetto Tortoise Beetle
Hemisphaerota cyanea
Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae eubule
Gulf Fritillary
Agraulis vanillae
Monarch
Danaus plexippus
Long-tailed Skipper
Urbanus proteus
Salt Marsh Skipper*
Panoquina panoquin
Puffer Fish; Globefish
Chilomycterus sp.
American Alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getulus
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Anhinga; Snakebird
Anhinga anhinga
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Nyctocorax violaceus
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Great Egret
Casmerodius albus
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Roseate Spoonbill*
Ajaia ajaja
Blue-winged Teal
Anas discors
Clapper Rail
Rallus longirostris
Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Willet
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Franklin’s Gull
Larus pipixcan
Laughing Gull
Larus atricilla
Bonaparte’s Gull
Larus philadelphia
Herring Gull
Larus argentatus
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
Caspian Tern
Sterna caspia
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Carolina Wren
Thryothorus ludovicianus
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Prairie Warbler
Dendroica discolor
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia
Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Rufous-sided Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Marsh Rabbit
Sylvilagus palustris
Bottle-nosed Dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Atmospheric Phenomenon
Aurora multicolorata rainboensis
*First Time Recorded
Note: This flora/fauna list is produced by the South Carolina Association of Naturalists, and is subject to revision as needed. Above list produced on October 9, 1996.