Roxbury Park

06/04/2021

04/29/2021

It’s spring and bumblebee queens are out looking for nest sites, and they often will check out nest boxes for birds. They especially seem to like chickadee nests because of the moss and other soft material. If she claims a nest box, she will start her little colony down in the nest.

If a bumblebee queen is in your nest box (you’ll hear buzzing), if it’s possible, put up another box for birds nearby and let the bee nest. If not, then the only real option if it’s an old nest is to remove it so the bee moves on. If there’s already an active nest, then that can't be done. It’s possible to actually catch the queen bumblebee and put her in a box made just for bees (like in the photo). Of course there’s a chance of being stung so I don’t really recommend it unless you have really no choice. Please don’t kill her. 

Bumblebees don’t have huge colonies like honeybees and they are not aggressive unless they are defending their nest site. They tend to be calm unless provoked. As one of our native bees, they are super beneficial for pollination and many bumblebee species are critically endangered, so they need all the help they can get. 

Some helpful links are in the comments for more information. 

*Carpenter bees are a whole different species and they are the ones that bore tunnels into wood, so they are unlikely to actually be inside the nest box, so if you find a bee inside down in a bird nest, it’s probably a bumblebee.

04/24/2021

Weekend destination!

04/14/2021

Join your host Melinda Hare, Outreach Coordinator for EIOLT, for an interview with EIOLT board member and past-president Dr. Sid Gauthreaux Ph.D. about his c...

03/26/2021

So a few weekends ago I went to Rox to bird and saw a placed sign by the road that the park was closed. I went into the parking lot anyways to see if I could at least see my Red-headed Woodpeckers. Well not mine... but... anyway the gate to the cottage road was closed as usual but also had a sign that the cottage was rented. For what seems like 3 or 4 weeks now the sign has been at the road as to the park being closed. I called the Town of Meggett to enquire and was told the cottage is not avail for renting and they are not sure as to why the signage is out... I am waiting to hear back. Would be interested in input from others....

02/25/2021

A little blast from the past . . . February 24th & 25th, 2016

Nice seeing the Osprey hanging around lately, as well as this flock of herons and egrets that has been hanging around for the last week or two. Also, I did hear our first Yellow-throated Warbler up by the cottage this morning. Let's just say that they have a rather "cheery" call.

02/18/2021

Hosted by SC Native Plant Society 2/20/21

"FIELD TRIP: Saturday, February 20, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Roxbury Park (4494 SC-174, Meggett, SC)
Leader: Tom Austin, Edisto Island Open Land Trust
Join local naturalist Tom Austin for a guided nature walk through the Town of Meggett's Roxbury Park. Roxbury Park is a roughly 200-acre park with over 4,000 feet of frontage along Toogoodoo Creek. The property boasts a wide diversity of habitat types and a staggering biodiversity for its relatively small size. So far, over 1,500 species of plants, animals, and fungi have been documented on the property. A stroll below its mature upland forests, across its freshwater marsh, along the creek and ponds, or through its native wildflower plantings is almost certain to yield something surprising! After the trip, Tom will take any interested members on a brief tour around the Hutchinson House Heritage Center. Masks are required for this program. Registration is almost full but we will hold a waiting list. Please RSVP to Austin Trousdale: [email protected]."