Birds and Nature in Clarendon Co. SC

          It was back on the water for another clean-up at Hickory Top. The water was slightly higher than on the first, but the channel going out to the lake was harder to paddle. It was like paddling through a thick stew and was a slow go. The goal I set out to get was two bags full and I had some new areas to check out on this trip.       Not much clearance even at the end of the channel. At least one Jon boat had been through recently, so some motors can still make it through.            On the last clean-up, I came across one Limpkin on the way back to the launch. This time there were two not far from the start. I don't believe these birds got to this location on their own. Historically their range only extended to Georgia and although in recent years there have been sightings throughout the eastern US there is some fishiness about the ones in this area. Original reports in the Sparkleberry Swamp area, close by i...

           Since I was pretty bad with getting clean-ups done in July and posting on this blog, I decided to start this month off right and headed to Hickory Top this morning for a clean-up. Yesterday, I was able to do some scouting and found some larger items that needed the canoe to take out. The goal for the day was to remove the shell of a TV I found scouting and at least one bag of trash. I wasn't able to fully complete the days goal, but did get some trash out and got to see some cool things along the way. Currently I do not think many motorized boats could use this access. Shallow water and a log going half way across the channel really limits what can make it out to the lake. It wasn't a problem with the canoe.        This is the lowest I have seen the water on this section of Lake Marion. There is a lot more walkable land, which helps with the clean-ups. White Ibis feeding along the channel going out the the lake.     ...