Remote ACE Basin Cemetery Revisited

Such a remote part of the Lowcountry. But people did live and die there. This week we drove about 40 miles south of Charleston to the ACE Basin, to the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, to the Boynton Trail within the vast nature preserve. Its address is barely on the map (or internet) too: Green Pond, S.C.

After more effort than I thought it would take, we found what we were looking to find. A very old cemetery that may have burials going back to the 1700s. There are five visible grave markers here.

Grave Discovery in the ACE Basin!

Boynton Trail 

Yesterday, I had quite an adventure on the nature trail at the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in South Carolina's ACE Basin. 

Within the Colleton County refuge's 8,000 acres is the Boynton Trail. A day can be spent at this place alone, with its miles of trails through and around former rice fields and wooded areas.

I have visited the Boynton Trail (this link is one of my posts) a number of times over the years. Several of my Donnelley and Boynton blogs posts can be found by using the "Search This Blog" feature to the right. I went there just two weeks ago and had a really neat encounter with a pair of Painted Buntings.  I will post some of those photographs in the days ahead.

After that recent visit, I was determined to get back soon. Here is why (see next picture):

Painted Bunting a Donnelley Delight!

On Sunday, July 23 we braved the Lowcountry heat and humidity and ventured south to the ACE Basin's Donnelley Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

For us, the drive is about 50 miles. Donnelley is located off Highway 17 in the metropolis (ha!) of Green Pond, S.C.

Sapsucker Surprise at ACE Basin Refuge!

A sunny and mild winter day at the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in the ACE Basin (Green Pond, S.C.) would deliver a Sunday sapsucker surprise.

Like the other state Department of Natural Resources WMA near the South Carolina coast, Donnelley is vast, comprised of thousands of acres of protected property that can be driven or walked (or both) for a quick visit or all day excursion.

My Pix in Post and Courier Magazine!

I was excited this morning to read Charleston's newspaper, the Post and Courier, which included the latest edition of its magazine, My Charleston. Photographs in the issue included those submitted by readers in its weekly photography contests, which cover a wide variety of topics.

Well, I was thrilled to read it this morning and see not one, but two of my photographs in the magazine!

Caption (partial): "Patrick Harwood had a 'locked eyes' encounter with a deer while on the Boynton Trail at the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area in the ACE Basin, south of Charleston.

Caption: Patrick Harwood found this busy colorful scene under the Folly Beach Pier." 

Cover of the Post and Courier's special magazine that came with the newspaper on Saturday, August 27.

Marching into March at Donnelley Wildlife Area

I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday, March 2 to drive down to the ACE Basin for a visit to the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area. The WMA site is located about 40 miles south of Charleston off Highway 17. The ACE Basin is one of the Lowcountry's true treasures- tens of thousands (at least) of acres of protected lands in a region named for the confluence of the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto rivers, hence the ACE acronym.

Spring 2013 Birding!

 

I'm bullish on birding this spring! From my own backyard to other area outdoor locales it has been a really good season for seeing and photographing many old favorites plus some new "lifers" here and there. Here are some of my best Spring 2013 birds and where I found them.

American Goldfinch, Brown-headed Cowbird, Chipping Sparrow (my backyard feeders)





Northern Cardinal (my backyard feeders)

Alligators!

It is springtime and the flowers are blooming, the birds are chirping, and the alligators are...menacing.

My recent visits to two of the South Carolina Lowcountry's wildlife areas have been highlighted by my extreme caution with every step when I'm near the old rice fields that are common to these special sanctuaries.

Spring is when the alligators come out of their winter hibernation to soak up the sun, to mate and create little gators, and to feed on the unlucky fish and animals that cross their paths. Don't fall for that charming, toothy gator smile (below), these guys are lethal.

Donnelley Wildlife Management Area

Happy New Year! I hope you have many enjoyable nature outings and adventures in 2013.

We are fortunate in South Carolina to have several wildlife refuges in the state's Lowcountry. Several are former rice plantations located in the ACE basin.  This is a large protected region named for the confluence of three rivers, the Ashepoo, Combahee and Edisto.

I've posted previously on some of the other locations that are part of this system: Bear Island and the Hollings National Wildlife Refuge, for example. The other day Alesia and I drove down to the Donnelley Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in remote Green Pond, S.C.

I had been to Donnelley a few times before. This was the first time in the winter, and it proved to be the best as far as the abundance of birds. We first saw a number of Common Moorhens in a swamp a short ways from the entrance to the 8,000 acre preserve.  Whatbird.com describes the Moorhens as a chicken-like marsh bird distinguished by the red shield-like plate above its bill. It also has a distinctive yellow tip on its bill.

Donnelley has a large pond that, on this day, had a nice variety of birds in and around it, including these Great Blue Herons. This large bird, always so photogenic and picturesque, was especially so with the neat reflections and when they passed or stood near each other.

This next shot looks like it was done in time elapsed exposure. It wasn't. It's two Great Blue Herons and a neat reflection.

On a small island there were a number of Black-crowned Night Herons, many of which seemed to be in slumber mode.

We tried to be quiet so as to not wake or disturb them!

The juvenile of this species looks so different than the adults. What a beautiful plummage and eye coloring the young ones have! 

I also liked this pair of Boat-tailed Grackles. They were very busy with lots of calling and keeping their bills to the sky.