Seems nobody knows exactly why it’s call that.

This is a beautiful swamp. The Francis Beidler Forest is flooded by rainwater channeled through the forest by crisscrossing, meandering creeks rather than the roiling, rising waters in a flood plain like Congaree swamp.  Here, reflections fill the surface of clear blackwater flowing slowly around huge bald cypress, tupelo and red maple trees.  There is no tangle of fallen and flood strewn debris and no film of mud everywhere.   An Audubon Center boardwalk lets us stroll through nearly effortlessly.

The fellow at check in did remind us though that they have just as many snakes and spiders as Congaree, do have the occasional alligator, and this spring, a huge hatching of worms.  These worms let themselves down out of the canopy on individual strands/webs. They celebrate them here as exactly the food the returning birds want.   I am very glad I wore my hat!   The worms are everywhere.

We watch a yellow crowned night heron stalk, snatch, then expertly crunch and swallow a crawdad.  Tiny yellow birds dart all around us.  They are Prothonotary Warblers, one of the most prolific nesters here.  Occasionally one lights long enough for a good picture.  We watch carefully for river otters but never spot one.  We hear a nearby barred owl.

They do charge a fee, $10, but it is a great walk.