Trail 8: Simms Branch Trail (Western Part)

01/21/2012.  10:00 AM.

Start:  GPS N 35, 53.902, W 78, 35.291
End:   GPS N 35, 54.308, W 78, 35.639

Access to the trail entrance is quite easy.  Look for the intersection of Hiking Trail and Clivedon Drive -- the entrance is just slightly northeast of Clivedon Drive.  Hiking Trail is fairly wide here, and there is room to park on the street right next to the trail entrance.

Weather conditions were cloudy, breezy, and wet for this outing.  The temperature was in the mid-50s.  Despite the poor conditions, I spotted more species on this walk than on any of the others so far.  Part of this is almost certainly due to the presence of Durant Road Middle School just off the trail at about the halfway point.  A number of species that prefer more open territory were out on the grassy areas of the campus. It may also have to do with my improving speed in recognizing some of the more common species.

An interesting difference between this trail and all the other Greenway trails I've walked is the much higher proportion of pine trees.  I'm not sure how much this difference in vegetation might have affected the results.  I did notice one or two species of birds that seemed to stay in the highest parts of the loblolly pines, and because they were backlit against the bright clouds, I was unable to see any detail.  Perhaps they were pine-preferring species, or maybe they were simply species that prefer higher trees.  Either way, I would probably have needed to see them on a sunnier day to have a chance at identification.

Birds Sighted Between Hiking Trail and Durant Road Middle School:  There was heavy bird activity on the left side of the trail between about the 2nd and 5th houses from the entrance.

Turkey Vulture (in flight):  Saw one of these at the very beginning of the trail.

Carolina Chickadee:  GPS N 35, 53.932, W 78, 35.295.  Plentiful.

Northern Cardinal:  Saw these at three or four points along the trail.

Tufted Titmouse:  Also seen at several points.

Carolina Wren:  I was surprised to see this bird at five different points along the trail. Probably the best trail for this bird so far, and I also had the closest view of it ever.

Dark Eyed Junco:  Not as common as on most other trails.

White Throated Sparrow:  The only sparrow species I saw on this trail.

American Crow:  GPS N 35, 53.997, W 78, 35.277.

Birds Sighted at Durant Road Middle School from Edge of Trail:  The middle school parking lot and some of its grounds are visible from just before the small wooden bridge.

American Robin:  GPS 35, 54.193, W 78, 35.400.  At least 15 of these were present.

European Starling:  I would say there were 25 or more of these spread out around the Middle School grounds.  After a time, many of them came and settled in a tree near the trail.  This was the first sighting of these birds since I began walking the Greenway trails.

Red Wing Blackbird:  Only saw one of these, mixed in with other birds.  This is a new sighting for the Greenway list as well.

Northern Mockingbird:  Another single amid the crowd.

Blue Jay:  Also solitary, as far as I could determine.

Mourning Dove:  Saw two of these together.

Birds Sighted Between the Bridge and Trail End:  There was a backyard feeder partway down this segment of the trail with considerable activity around it.

Red Bellied Woodpecker:  GPS 35, 54.241, W 78, 35.505.  The only one I saw all morning.

Eastern Towhee:  At the feeder.

House Finch:  At the feeder.

New Birds Sighted on the Return Trip:  I reached the end of the trail at 11:40 AM.  I then turned around and retraced my steps.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet:  GPS N 35, 54.244, W 78, 35.502.

Common Grackle:  Got a nice view of the iridescent purplish feathers when this bird perched in a low tree for a few seconds before flying up to a higher branch where it was more backlit and dark looking.

Yellow Rumped Warbler:  GPS N 35, 53.959, W 78, 35.283.  Saw this one near the entrance to the trail just before I packed up to head home for the day.

I saw a total of 20 species on this outing, including three new birds for the Greenway list. That brings the total for the Greenway list to 36 species.  The new birds were European Starling, Red Winged Blackbird, and Common Grackle. There were many fewer woodpeckers out today compared to other trails, and I didn't see any Nuthatches or Brown Creepers either.