Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
Robin Carter
Directions
From the intersection of US 1 and SC 145 about 2 miles north of McBee go north on US 1 for about 2 miles to the refuge headquarters on the left (northwest) side of US 1.
Birds to look for
Canada Goose, Wood Duck, American Wigeon (w), Green-winged Teal (w), Ring-necked Duck (w), Hooded Merganser (w), Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Pied-billed Grebe (w), American Kestrel (mostly winter; a few nest), American Coot (w), Common Nighthawk (s), Chuck-will's-widow (s), Whip-poor-will (s), Belted Kingfisher, Red-headed Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (s), Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Eastern Wood-Pewee (s), Eastern Phoebe (w), Loggerhead Shrike, Blue-headed Vireo (w, but may nest), Brown-headed Nuthatch, Eastern Bluebird, Pine Warbler, Summer Tanager (s), Eastern Towhee, Bachman's Sparrow (s), Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting
Description
Carolina Sandhills NWR protects thousands of acres of sandhills habitats, including mature longleaf pine-turkey oak woodlands, bayhead swamps, grassy fields, pine plantations, and even a bit of floodplain forests. There are many ponds on the refuge, which attract a few ducks in winter, but the main attraction is the high-quality longleaf pine forests with many Red-cockaded Woodpeckers and all of the other species of southeastern pine forests.
An auto tour route begins at the refuge headquarters and leads to most of habitats found on the refuge.
Several other good birding areas are nearby, including Sandhills State Forest, Cheraw State Park, and McBee Wildlife Management Area. To reach McBee Wildlife Management Area (very good for sparrows) go south on US 1 from McBee for about 4 miles. Here turn left (south) onto Road 296, Old Creek Road. The management area is 2 miles south, on the left (east).