Trail 19: Alleghany Trail (Part C) & Middle Crabtree Creek Trail

04/28/2012.  9:55 AM.

Start:  GPS N 35, 49.279, W 78, 38.520
End:   GPS N 35, 48.822, W 78, 37.098

Access to this trail is possible through Rothgeb Park, which is located near 2745 Rothgeb Drive.  Parking is available along the street in front of the park.

The day was cloudy and cool, with temperatures in the mid 50s Fahrenheit. I was enthusiastic to get back to the Alleghany Trail because there were so many birds around last time.  Today's outing covered parts of three different trails along the Crabtree Creek (East) part of the Capital Area Greenway.

The Rothgeb Park entrance leads to Alleghany Trail (Part C) which crosses back and forth across Crabtree Creek a couple of times until the trail reaches Anderson Drive.  From this point, the trails are not as well marked, and there are a number of branches, some of which are long access paths from various streets.

Across Anderson Drive, just down Oxford Road, is the next segment - the Fallon Creek Trail.  This segment is fairly short, and ends at Kiwanis Park.  A branch just before the entrance to the park leads to the much longer Middle Crabtree Creek Trail.  

The day started off well with several species sighted within the first half hour or so, but then the birds grew quiet and there was a long period with limited activity, especially along the Fallon Creek Trail. Activity picked up again a little before noon.

Birds Sighted Along Alleghany Trail (Part C)

Carolina Chickadee:  At Rothgeb Park entrance.

Northern Cardinal:  GPS N 35, 49.296, W 78, 38.512.

Blue Jay:  Two moving about together.

Mallard:  Male and female out on Crabtree Creek.  Later, I saw a pair of Mallards with two large ducklings.

Canada Goose:  Four adults and five smallish goslings.

Carolina Wren:  GPS N 35, 49.304, W 78, 38.473. Jumping around some large blocks of wood that were partially buried in ivy.

White Breasted Nuthatch:  GPS N 35, 49.298, W 78, 38.419.

Downy Woodpecker:  On the same tree with the White Breasted Nuthatch and only inches away.  Woodpeckers were rather rare today, perhaps because many of the trees were covered in ivy.

American Robin:  GPS N 35, 49.364, W 78, 38.375.

Eastern Bluebird:  At Marlowe Road entrance to trail.

Birds Sighted Along Fallon Creek Trail: This trail begins just across Anderson Drive. When you reach a place with two bridges, one continuing forward and one heading north, the north trail across the long bridge leads to Middle Crabtree Creek Trail. The other path leads to Kiwanis Park.


Brown Thrasher:  GPS N 35, 49.102, W 78, 37.847.  Was singing an amazing variety of songs from a high perch.

Brown Headed Cowbird:  GPS N 35, 49.012, W 78, 37.829.


Blue Gray Gnatcatcher:  Near cowbirds in Kiwanis Park.

Birds Sighted Along Middle Crabtree Creek Trail (Part A):

Tufted Titmouse:  GPS N 35, 49.105, W 78, 37.669.

Gray Catbird:  GPS N 35, 49.009, W 78, 37.669.  Two birds eating some kind of berry. A new species for the Capital Area Greenway list!

After this point, I passed under Wake Forest Road into a more urban area.  The trail passes near a number of restaurants and other businesses, though it still follows Crabtree Creek.

Common Grackle:  GPS N 35, 48.938, W 78, 37.458.

European Starling:  Only two or three of them in an open field area.

American Crow:  GPS N 35, 48.899, W 78, 37.381.

American Goldfinch:  GPS N 35, 48.874, W 78, 37.318.

Northern Rough Winged Swallow:  GPS N 35, 48.836, W 78, 37.171.  There were perhaps eight of these flying low over the river back and forth just west of a railroad overpass.  New birds for the Capital Area Greenway list.

Belted Kingfisher:  Saw it in flight twice as it passed under the railroad overpass.

Unknown Warbler:  This bird was bright yellow on the breast with two streaks of dark color along the sides.  No rufous cap so it was not a Palm Warbler.  Might have been a very bright yellow Pine Warbler, but I could not be sure.

New Species Sighted on Return Trip:  I turned around at Atlantic Avenue to head back to the car.

Eastern Phoebe:  GPS N 35, 48.867, W 78, 37.306.  Hawking for insects.

Cedar Waxwing:  GPS N 35, 49.254, W 78, 38.066.  At least ten and perhaps more eating berries from a tree alongside Anderson Drive.

Yellow Rumped Warbler:  GPS N 35, 49.323, W 78, 38.113.

Great Crested Flycatcher:  Another new bird for the Raleigh Greenway list and my lifelist. This is a bird that I thought I saw back in early January, but could not be sure.

Eastern Towhee:  GPS N 35, 49.432, W 78, 38.177.  Male.

Red Bellied Woodpecker:  Back at entrance to Rothgeb Park.

Today was my largest tally of species to date.  A total of 27 species identified, plus a warbler that I could not identify.  This outing added three new birds to the Capital Area Greenway list, as well as one bird to my lifelist.  What a great day!  The total for the Greenway List now stands at 55 species.