S
Sue Ann (Suna) Kendall
Guest
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Today’s adventure in Myrtle Beach was to find the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. This is the huge protected area we learned about yesterday from the birder/salesman. It’s a beautiful pine forest maintained by prescribed burns. It’s home to a population of carnivorous plants (that we didn’t see, sadly) and many other interesting species that grow among the Carolina bays—shallow ovals that collect rainwater then dry up. They are dry now.
Nicely thinned underbrush.
The bays are formed in incredibly white sand and look pretty weird out there in the forest.
Best bay we saw
White sand
Carolina red root on the sand.
Anita and I drove all over, looking for trees with Red-cockaded Woodpecker nests. We found nests, but no birds.
Nest
The paint on the tree means woodpeckers found.
Luckily there were other birds, like Eastern Towhees, Indigo Buntings (even saw one!), Red-headed Woodpeckers, Brown Thrashers, and a beautiful Swallow-tailed Kite.
Swallowtail Kite
I found many interesting new plants, too. There were a few still blooming in the heat.
Savannah meadow beauty
Pine land silk grass
Spurge nettle
Yucca
Sphagnum moss
Clusterspike False indigo
Savannah primrose willow
Large gallberry
Swamp Tori
Savanna irises
Broadleaved cattail
Nuttall’s thistle
The most exciting sight was a young bear who trotted across the road a ways down the road from us. That was my first wild black bear sighting. This preserve has a thriving population. Amazing that it’s so near civilization it so remote.
Tree scratched by a bear
Woods where bear was
I’d love to come back at a time of year with more moderate temperatures, because there are many miles of trails to explore.
Inviting foot travel!
We headed out and found a Publix supermarket, which was kind of like visiting a tourist attraction. We got fun food to eat the rest of the week. Most importantly, we got beverages.
After afternoon rest, we picked up my book about the Cherokee wars of 1776 written by Kevin the bartender/professor. I like his views of history from different viewpoints. Then I had to take Anita to the Sea Captain’s House for a taste of old Myrtle Beach. It’s a ritual!
It’s an actual sea captain house.
The views were beautiful, the wine bubbly (Anita’s), and the food just lovely. We knew we needed to eat hummingbird cake for dessert!
Ire from our table in the patio area.
The visit so far has been pleasant. The traffic and crowds aren’t bad at all. Hooray for NOT coming during Bike Week!
Nicely thinned underbrush.
The bays are formed in incredibly white sand and look pretty weird out there in the forest.
Best bay we saw
White sand
Carolina red root on the sand.
Anita and I drove all over, looking for trees with Red-cockaded Woodpecker nests. We found nests, but no birds.
Nest
The paint on the tree means woodpeckers found.
Luckily there were other birds, like Eastern Towhees, Indigo Buntings (even saw one!), Red-headed Woodpeckers, Brown Thrashers, and a beautiful Swallow-tailed Kite.
Swallowtail Kite
I found many interesting new plants, too. There were a few still blooming in the heat.
Savannah meadow beauty
Pine land silk grass
Spurge nettle
Yucca
Sphagnum moss
Clusterspike False indigo
Savannah primrose willow
Large gallberry
Swamp Tori
Savanna irises
Broadleaved cattail
Nuttall’s thistle
The most exciting sight was a young bear who trotted across the road a ways down the road from us. That was my first wild black bear sighting. This preserve has a thriving population. Amazing that it’s so near civilization it so remote.
Tree scratched by a bear
Woods where bear was
I’d love to come back at a time of year with more moderate temperatures, because there are many miles of trails to explore.
Inviting foot travel!
We headed out and found a Publix supermarket, which was kind of like visiting a tourist attraction. We got fun food to eat the rest of the week. Most importantly, we got beverages.
After afternoon rest, we picked up my book about the Cherokee wars of 1776 written by Kevin the bartender/professor. I like his views of history from different viewpoints. Then I had to take Anita to the Sea Captain’s House for a taste of old Myrtle Beach. It’s a ritual!
It’s an actual sea captain house.
The views were beautiful, the wine bubbly (Anita’s), and the food just lovely. We knew we needed to eat hummingbird cake for dessert!
Ire from our table in the patio area.
The visit so far has been pleasant. The traffic and crowds aren’t bad at all. Hooray for NOT coming during Bike Week!
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