When: Sunday, February 23

Where: Bear Island Wildlife Management Area. From Savannah

or Bluffton, take either South Carolina Highway 170 or

Interstate 95 to U.S. Highway 17 heading east toward

Charleston. Turn right onto Bennetts Point Road (if familiar

with Donnelley WMA, this turn-off is a few miles past it).

Continue on Bennetts Point Road for 13 miles. The entrance is

on the left, on Titi Road, about a mile after crossing the

Ashepoo River.

What: Wintering waterfowl, swans, American White Pelicans,

American Avocets, wading birds, and more! Meet at 8:30 a.m.

at the entrance on Titi Road, which faces Mary House Pond.

Rigor: Easy to moderate with a mix of walking and driving to

explore a habitat that includes brackish water marshes,

maritime forest, upland fields, and water-controlled lagoons

and impoundments.

Notes: There are no facilities once you turn onto Bennetts Point

Road. The last chance for gas, snacks, and bathrooms is a

small gas station/store on U.S. Highway 17, shortly after the

entrance to Donnelley WMA. Cell service is scarce and often

nonexistent at Bear Island, so please notify those who might

worry about you! Also, after the Bear Island excursion, trip

leader Lynn Hodgson will continue to Donnelley WMA for an

unofficial afternoon of birding — participants are welcome to

join! If interested, bring a lunch and plan to be out until at least

3 p.m.

Leader: Lynn Hodgson (hodgson.lynn@aol.com • 808-282-

5218)