Start: GPS N 35, 49.482, W 78, 39.094
End: GPS N 35, 49.303, W 78, 38.506
The entrance to this section of the trail is near 3200 Northampton Street and runs along the southern border of Root Elementary School. There is room to park on the street next to the trail entrance. This part of the trail runs through a stand of trees for perhaps 300 feet, then lets out onto Lassiter Mill Road. From there, the trail is essentially the sidewalk that borders the road, running north for several hundred feet until the street crosses Crabtree Creek. About 200 feet beyond the bridge, on the right side of the road, is another entrance to the trail. This section of the Alleghany Trail may be my most favorite stretch of the Capital Area Greenway so far. It was a very pleasant walk, and I saw more species on this outing than on any other so far.
American Robin: GPS N 35, 49.482, W 78, 39.094. At the trailhead. As has been the case lately, these were fairly numerous along the trail.
American Crow: GPS N 35, 49.471, W 78, 39.065. Flying overhead and calling.
Yellow Rumped Warbler: Male.
Northern Cardinal: Male and female pair.
Tufted Titmouse: Single individual. Not as common as usual.
Birds Sighted Along Lassiter Mill Road
Brown Headed Cowbird: GPS N 35, 49.574, W 78, 38.943. Singing away atop a high tree. This is a new bird for the Greenway list.
House Finch: GPS N 35, 49.604, W 78, 38.935.
Downy Woodpecker: GPS N 35, 49.604, W 78, 38.935. Female.
Mourning Dove: Solitary.
White Throated Sparrow: GPS N 35, 49.591, W 78, 38.896.
Blue Jay: These were more numerous here than anywhere I have been so far along the Raleigh Greenway.
Hermit Thrush: Got a good close look at this one.
Carolina Chickadee: GPS N 35, 49.541, W 78, 38.833.
Cedar Waxwing: GPS N 35, 49.496, W 78, 38.798. At least 20 of these birds were moving through the forest. This is only the second time that I've seen Cedar Waxwings, and the first time I've been able to look at them with binoculars. A nice new addition to the Greenway list.
Common Grackle: GPS N 35, 49.498, W 78, 38.800. Only my second sighting of these along the Raleigh Greenway, though I have seen them at other places around town many times. At least 10 were present at any one time.
Carolina Wren: Singing beautifully.
Blue Gray Gnatcatcher: GPS N 35, 49.467, W 78, 38.778. Got a good long look at this bird, though it did seem to move about every two seconds. This is a new one for both the Greenway list, and for my lifelist.
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker: One of many woodpeckers seen today.
Red Tailed Hawk: GPS N 35, 49.374, W 78, 38.610. Perched in a mostly leafless tree.
I turned around at about noon when I came across an entrance from near 2745 Rothgeb Drive. This will be the starting point for my next outing.
Turkey Vulture: GPS N 35, 49.303, W 78, 38.506. In flight.
Hairy Woodpecker: GPS N 35, 49.450, W 78, 38.769. Got a clear view of the long beak and the little dark lines running from shoulder area toward the chest.
Dark Eyed Junco: Single individual.
Red Bellied Woodpecker: GPS N 35, 49.562, W 78, 38.856. This woodpecker was down low near the base of a tree working away at the bark and seemingly unconcerned that I was maybe 12 feet away.
Palm Warbler: This little warbler landed right in front of me about seven feet away while I was watching the Red Bellied Woodpecker. The cap on its head is very distinctive. This was a new one for my lifelist as well as the Greenway list.
All in all, this was a very productive outing. I identified a total of 24 species. Four were new sightings for the Greenway list, and two were new sightings for my lifelist. I also saw four different species of woodpecker. This outing brings the total for the Capital Area Greenway list to 52 species.
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