Blackstock Battlefield
April 2008
Hello Everyone,
Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather for our fieldtrip. We visited the Blackstock Battlefield Passage of the Palmetto Trail and Johns Creek Lake Complex, in Union County. The trail at Blackstock Battlefield, which is currently a loop trail, takes you through a series of switch-backs down a steep hill to the banks of Hacker’s Creek, then along the Tyger River, before crossing an open field at the battlefield monument. Once we passed through the planted pines near the parking area, the hardwood trees on the north-facing slope and floodplain of the creek and river took over. Wildflowers in bloom were scarce, but we did see a few including round-lobed liverleaf, windflowers, violets, and spice bush. Beech trees, oaks, and hickories dominated, with sourwood and short-leaf pine intermingled. Thick patches of mountain laurel and common silverbells were observed along the banks of the Tyger River. We watched a rather vociferous kingfisher foraging in the River and heard a Louisiana water thrush at Hacker’s Creek.
Johns Creek Lake Complex was formed by impounding two creeks that flow through the area which provided us with a different habitat to explore. We walked a trail along one of the lakes where we saw lots of damage to trees caused by beavers, then we eventually found the beaver dam. Tree species on the slopes above the lake were similar to those on the Battlefield trail, but we saw different wetland plant species along the edge of the lake and the creeks that feed it. One notable was a very impressive climbing hydrangea, discovered by Robin Carter, which must have been close to two-inches in diameter at the base and climbed about twenty-five feet up into a pine tree.
On March 24, the day after our trip, I received an email from Jan Ceigler with some exciting news that I’d like to share with everyone. The email read like this: “Along the sandbar at the Tyger River yesterday, I scooped up in my aquatic net five specimens of Laccobius reflexipennis, a 3.1-mm hydrophilid (water scavenger beetle). That's a new state record, it's having been found previously at Highlands, NC, north to Newfoundland and west to Canada's Northwest Territories.” In my line of work, one thing I have found is that we have a pretty good handle on terrestrial species (plant and animal) occurring in South Carolina, but more aquatic surveys need to be performed.
Thank you Jan Ceigler for scouting the sites, for leading the trip, and providing us with a fine synopsis of the history behind the Revolutionary War battle at the Blackstock Battlefield site. And congratulations on your discovery of a new state record!
Late last year I discovered a copy of SCAN’s “First Ten Years” book listed on eBay and purchased it. It was being offered by a second-hand bookstore in Florida. When the book arrived I was pleased to see that Rudy had signed the inside cover with “Best wishes! Rudy Mancke”. I couldn’t help wondering about the history of this book, such as who owned it and how did it end up in Florida. With the recent discussions about producing a third SCAN book, I pulled the book off my bookshelf a couple of weeks ago and started reading a little about the early days of SCAN. One thing that caught my eye was something Rudy said in the introduction. He expressed how his life has been enriched by SCAN and that he is a better naturalist than he would have been without SCAN. I thought about this and realized that this is true for me as well. I truly cherish the friendships that I have developed through SCAN and I learn something new from my fellow members on every fieldtrip. Our March fieldtrip was no different as I learned about an upland species of Viburnum, rusty blackhaw, from Quinton Webber and the difference between the call of a blue-headed vireo and a red-eyed vireo from Jules Fraytet. Afterwards we all enjoyed a seafood dinner, recounted the day’s activities, laughed a little, and generally caught up on what’s been happening in each other’s lives. It was a wonderful day!
As always, thanks for the camaraderie and knowledge you share.
Gordon
Once again we were blessed with beautiful weather for our fieldtrip. We visited the Blackstock Battlefield Passage of the Palmetto Trail and Johns Creek Lake Complex, in Union County. The trail at Blackstock Battlefield, which is currently a loop trail, takes you through a series of switch-backs down a steep hill to the banks of Hacker’s Creek, then along the Tyger River, before crossing an open field at the battlefield monument. Once we passed through the planted pines near the parking area, the hardwood trees on the north-facing slope and floodplain of the creek and river took over. Wildflowers in bloom were scarce, but we did see a few including round-lobed liverleaf, windflowers, violets, and spice bush. Beech trees, oaks, and hickories dominated, with sourwood and short-leaf pine intermingled. Thick patches of mountain laurel and common silverbells were observed along the banks of the Tyger River. We watched a rather vociferous kingfisher foraging in the River and heard a Louisiana water thrush at Hacker’s Creek.
Johns Creek Lake Complex was formed by impounding two creeks that flow through the area which provided us with a different habitat to explore. We walked a trail along one of the lakes where we saw lots of damage to trees caused by beavers, then we eventually found the beaver dam. Tree species on the slopes above the lake were similar to those on the Battlefield trail, but we saw different wetland plant species along the edge of the lake and the creeks that feed it. One notable was a very impressive climbing hydrangea, discovered by Robin Carter, which must have been close to two-inches in diameter at the base and climbed about twenty-five feet up into a pine tree.
On March 24, the day after our trip, I received an email from Jan Ceigler with some exciting news that I’d like to share with everyone. The email read like this: “Along the sandbar at the Tyger River yesterday, I scooped up in my aquatic net five specimens of Laccobius reflexipennis, a 3.1-mm hydrophilid (water scavenger beetle). That's a new state record, it's having been found previously at Highlands, NC, north to Newfoundland and west to Canada's Northwest Territories.” In my line of work, one thing I have found is that we have a pretty good handle on terrestrial species (plant and animal) occurring in South Carolina, but more aquatic surveys need to be performed.
Thank you Jan Ceigler for scouting the sites, for leading the trip, and providing us with a fine synopsis of the history behind the Revolutionary War battle at the Blackstock Battlefield site. And congratulations on your discovery of a new state record!
Late last year I discovered a copy of SCAN’s “First Ten Years” book listed on eBay and purchased it. It was being offered by a second-hand bookstore in Florida. When the book arrived I was pleased to see that Rudy had signed the inside cover with “Best wishes! Rudy Mancke”. I couldn’t help wondering about the history of this book, such as who owned it and how did it end up in Florida. With the recent discussions about producing a third SCAN book, I pulled the book off my bookshelf a couple of weeks ago and started reading a little about the early days of SCAN. One thing that caught my eye was something Rudy said in the introduction. He expressed how his life has been enriched by SCAN and that he is a better naturalist than he would have been without SCAN. I thought about this and realized that this is true for me as well. I truly cherish the friendships that I have developed through SCAN and I learn something new from my fellow members on every fieldtrip. Our March fieldtrip was no different as I learned about an upland species of Viburnum, rusty blackhaw, from Quinton Webber and the difference between the call of a blue-headed vireo and a red-eyed vireo from Jules Fraytet. Afterwards we all enjoyed a seafood dinner, recounted the day’s activities, laughed a little, and generally caught up on what’s been happening in each other’s lives. It was a wonderful day!
As always, thanks for the camaraderie and knowledge you share.
Gordon
Next Trip
Stumphouse Mountain Area
Oconee County, 4/26/2008 10:30AM
Stumphouse Mountain Area
Oconee County
April 26, 2008 10:30 a.m.
In March we visited an eastern portion of Sumter National Forest at Sedalia Lake and near by battlefield. This month we visit a western portion of Sumter National Forest…almost! We will visit the Stumphouse Mountain-Tunnel-Isaqueena Falls area. This area is just south of the border of the national forest. Even before Andre Michaux traveled the Carolinas, William Bartram traversed this area. Judging from his journals he passed very close to this area. He visited Station Falls on the east side of the mountain then apparently followed Indian trails west and north to cross the Chatooga River. This track takes him very close to this area. What might we find in this same area?
This area has recently been given protection thanks to the cooperation and efforts of several land trust organizations, The Nature Conservancy and SC DNR. It is in the process of becoming a Heritage Trust site.
SCAN was there in April of 1980. The highlight of the trip was the large number of spring ephemerals to be found (plus the bats in the tunnel). It is time to visit those ephemerals again. There are interesting salamanders and other amphibians in the creeks. It should be close to the height of the spring bird migration. April in the Southern Appalachians is magical. Come prepared to explore the area, including some 'off-trail' walking. It should be exciting. Pack your lunch and plenty of liquids. Insect repellent is likely to be a good precaution.
Oconee County
April 26, 2008 10:30 a.m.
In March we visited an eastern portion of Sumter National Forest at Sedalia Lake and near by battlefield. This month we visit a western portion of Sumter National Forest…almost! We will visit the Stumphouse Mountain-Tunnel-Isaqueena Falls area. This area is just south of the border of the national forest. Even before Andre Michaux traveled the Carolinas, William Bartram traversed this area. Judging from his journals he passed very close to this area. He visited Station Falls on the east side of the mountain then apparently followed Indian trails west and north to cross the Chatooga River. This track takes him very close to this area. What might we find in this same area?
This area has recently been given protection thanks to the cooperation and efforts of several land trust organizations, The Nature Conservancy and SC DNR. It is in the process of becoming a Heritage Trust site.
SCAN was there in April of 1980. The highlight of the trip was the large number of spring ephemerals to be found (plus the bats in the tunnel). It is time to visit those ephemerals again. There are interesting salamanders and other amphibians in the creeks. It should be close to the height of the spring bird migration. April in the Southern Appalachians is magical. Come prepared to explore the area, including some 'off-trail' walking. It should be exciting. Pack your lunch and plenty of liquids. Insect repellent is likely to be a good precaution.
Directions: Directions: There are several routes to Walhalla, with the route through Clemson probably being the most convenient for folks, though staying on I-85 to SC 24 then north to 11 or 183 is another alternative.
From I-85, take exit 19B to Clemson on hwy. 76. In Clemson, turn left onto Hwy. 123 towards Seneca and cross the lake. Once in Seneca, take a right onto Hwy. 28 towards Walhalla. From Walhalla, starting at the intersection of SC 28 and SC 183, go west on SE 28 for 5.5 miles and turn right onto Stumphouse Tunnel Road. (If you come to the fork where Hwy. 109 meets Hwy. 28, you have gone too far.) Park in the lot next to the picnic area. Remember to bring a flashlight if you want to go inside the tunnel.