An easy Spring Day of birding from the trails, observation decks and boardwalks of Lake Conestee Nature Park. Be sure to check the forecast beforehand and dress appropriately!

On the Reedy River, just south of Greenville, South Carolina lies Lake Conestee Nature Preserve. Established in the early 1800s through the damming of the Reedy River, this 400-acre park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including deer, raccoon, fox, beaver and river otter. In September 2010 it was named an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society, in part for its wintering population of Rusty Blackbirds. 5 miles of natural and paved trails and boardwalks take visitors through a variety of habitat - mixed forest, extensive wetlands and riparian zones.

Warblers will be the focus of this trip, particularly the Prothonotary Warblers that nest here. We will explore a selection of the available trails here and will hope to find a nice mix of species, including potential goodies such as American Bittern, Wilson’s Snipe, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Prothonotary Warbler, American Redstart, Barred Owl, Northern Parula, and Pileated Woodpecker, plus all the regular Spring residents. We’ll be sure to scan the lake for ducks, such as Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser and explore the forest in search of migrating passerines, like Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, and Louisiana Waterthrush. Of course, there’s always the chance of something unusual showing up! The nesting Prothonotary Warblers are worth the trip all by themselves. Come check out the Golden-Swamp Warblers with us!