Little St. Simons Island

Transcription

1 Little St. Simons Island A Special Departure with The Nature Conservancy s Legacy Club Marc Del Santro Itinerary Dates: May 5 11, 2013 Estimated Cost: $2095 based on Double Occupancy $2495 based on Single Occupancy

2 Throughout this trip you will have the opportunity to improve your photography with help from Clay Bolt, an accomplished professional natural history and conservation photographer whose work has been commended in Environmental Photographer of the Year Awards and by the National Wildlife Federation. Clay will be along on the trip and available to teach, demonstrate and offer advice on nature photography. Day 1 Sunday, May 5 th 12:00pm A shuttle service will meet you at the Jacksonville airport and you will be driven as a group to the Hampton River Marina. 2:00pm* Departure from Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island. Guests will enjoy a leisurely boat cruise through coastal Georgia salt marshes on tidal creeks and rivers to The Lodge on Little St. Simons Island. Keep an eye out for dolphin! 2:30pm 3:00pm* Arrival on Little St. Simons Island Departure from Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *The boat will carry guests to the island in two groups as it has a capacity of Guests will either take the 2:00 or the 3:00 departure. 3:30pm Arrival on Little St. Simons Island Shrimp Boil in the Yard After settling into your room, get acquainted with your fellow guests and your hosts at a traditional shrimp boil. Enjoy local Georgia shrimp and relax under ancient mossdraped oaks. Dinner in the Lodge You will enjoy your time in the dining room almost as much as outdoors as the island s chef prepares creative meals from fresh and local ingredients. 8:30pm Overview of Georgia coastal barrier islands and conservation initiatives on LSSI with Christi Lambert of TNC and Naturalist Scott Coleman. Susan Marburger Hoopes

3 Day 2 Monday, May 6 th 6:45am Sunrise Walk/Shorebirding Join a Lodge naturalist for a sunrise beach walk in search of migrating and resident shorebirds. Perhaps you ll spot a red knot, a long-distance migrant who regularly stops to feed on the ocean beach and estuarine habitats of Little St. Simons Island. The truck shuttle departs at 6:45am, or you can leave a little earlier on your own and enjoy a morning bike ride out to the beach. Mark Del Santro will be set out for anyone wishing to grab something and venture out on their own or back to the room. After breakfast and lunch, a naturalist will come to the dining room to describe the next two activity options so that you may decide which you prefer and ask any questions about the day. 10:15am Reptile-Amphibian Safari or North End Adventure Enjoy a guided excursion in search of native reptiles and amphibians, in a variety of island habitats, or elect for an informative trip up island to learn about the island s cultural and natural history 2:15pm Bike Adventure or Creek Kayaking Enjoy yourself! Learn more of the flora and fauna on a guided bike adventure with an Island naturalist. You might spot European fallow deer, armadillos or a variety of resident and migratory birds along the way. Or explore the tidal salt marshes surrounding Little St. Simons Island by kayak (or canoe). After a quick refresher on paddling technique, your naturalist will guide you on a leisurely trip through this remarkable habitat. Christine Kessler 8:30pm Dinner in the Lodge Evening Presentation ~ TBD

4 Day 3 Tuesday, May 7 th 8:15am 10:15am Birding at Myrtle Pond Towers or Garden Walk Join a Naturalist on an excursion to the viewing towers of Myrtle Pond. We will expect to see least bitterns, glossy ibis, black necked stilts and yellowlegs to name a few. Our Garden walk will begin in our native plant gardens around the Lodge. Then we ll amble over to our organic garden where we will learn about growing soils through composting to companion planting and cover crops. 12:45pm Truck Shuttle Departs for South End Launch (or leave at 12:30pm if you would prefer to hike or bike to the South End). Picnic Lunch at South End Launch 2:15pm Creek Fishing See what s biting in the tidal creeks or in the surf; the Lodge provides spin reel and surf rods, bait and artificial lures for a variety of species: redfish, flounder or black drum to name a few. If you are seeking a quieter afternoon, simply relax on the banks of Mosquito Creek under a live oak with a good book. Susan Marburger Hoopes Dinner in the Lodge 8:30pm Firefly Walk (or evening walk if fireflies are scarce) Join our Naturalists for a walk under the live oak canopy to admire the magic of light from fireflies and listen for chuck wills widows. Day 4 Wednesday, May 8 th

5 10:15am Botany Tour or Tugboat Hike An Island naturalist will take you on a fascinating tour of the island s various botanical communities, describing the ecological importance and historical significance of the plants. Did you know that Spanish Moss is neither Spanish in origin or a moss? It s actually a relative of the pineapple family and was once used to stuff mattresses. Or, take a hike a few miles down the beach to see the stranded tugboat at Rainbow Beach, learning about tide line treasures and beach ecology along the way. Christine Kessler 2:15pm History Excursion or Oystercatcher Walk Join a naturalist for a perspective of how the cultural history has shaped the natural history of LSSI or join a naturalist on a monitoring effort for oystercatcher adults and chicks on the beach. 5:30pm Truck Shuttle Departs for Main Beach 5:45pm Cocktails and Dinner at the Beach Enjoy beachside cocktails and the last light of the day at a traditional coastal Low Country Boil Dinner, featuring wild caught Georgia shrimp. 8:30pm Evening Presentation ~ TBD Day 5 Thursday, May 9 th 10:15am South End Adventure or Middle Woods Hike Go on an adventure to Little St. Simons Island s south end, where Slash and Loblolly pine trees tower. You will learn why the pine forest habitat exists and how fires play an important role in plant succession on the island. Take a 3 mile loop hike from the Lodge with a Naturalist to explore maritime live oak canopy for nesting songbirds and a view of the expansive reach of tidal salt marsh. 2:15pm Pond Adventure or Creek Kayaking

6 Take a tour of the natural freshwater ponds around the island that harbor an abundance of American alligators and wading birds such as herons and egrets. Or explore the salt marshes surrounding Little St. Simons by kayak or canoe. After a quick refresher on paddling technique, your naturalist will guide you on a leisurely trip through this remarkable habitat. Dinner in the Lodge Mark Del Santro 8:30pm Sea Turtle/Beach Walk Enjoy the beach under a night sky. Fortunate participants may observe, from a distance, the remarkable sight of a loggerhead sea turtle laying her eggs under the night sky. Day 6 Friday, May 10 th 6:45am Sunrise Walk/Shorebirding Early risers enjoy a naturalist-led sunrise walk on the beach in search of migrating shorebirds. The truck shuttle departs at 6:45am, or you can leave a little earlier and enjoy a morning bike ride out to the beach. 7:30am Continental Breakfast 10:15am Explore Sancho Panza Beach or Woodland Warbler Walk Join one of our naturalists for a shorebirding excursion, beachcombing on the northeast reaches of Little St. Simons Island. Or, take a woodland bird walk from the Lodge looking for migratory and resident warblers. 2:15pm Old House Road Hike, Creek Fishing, or afternoon on your own Join the Lodge naturalists for a walk up Old House Road which weaves through maritime forests and along tidal salt marsh habitat. This 3 mile hike will provide participants with a perspective of many aspects of the Island s cultural and natural history.

7 Or, opt for a creek fishing excursion for a catch such as red fish, trout or flounder. The Lodge will provide the gear. 8:30pm Farewell Dinner at the Lodge Evening Presentation ~ TBD Day 7 Saturday, May 11 th 10:00am Depart Little St. Simons Island Say goodbye to Little St. Simons Island today with a boat ride back to Hampton River Marina, continuing on to Jacksonville airport for your flights home. 10:30am Arrival at Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *The boat will carry guests back to the marina in two groups as it has a capacity of Guests will either take the 10:00 or the 11:00 departure. 11:00am 11:30am Depart Little St. Simons Island Arrival at Hampton River Marina, St. Simons Island *This itinerary is representative of your trip, and like all natural history excursions, activities are subject to change based on weather and unforeseen events.