Start: GPS N 35, 45.546, W 78, 34.930
End: GPS N 35, 45.825, W 78, 35.252
The southeastern starting point for the Walnut Creek Trail is poorly marked. According to the Capital Area Greenway map, the first segment of the trail begins at the northwestern edge of Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion (3801 Rock Quarry Road, GPS N 35, 45.173, W 78, 34.779) and ends at Walnut Creek Softball Complex (1201 Sunnybrook Road). Neither end of this segment of the trail has a sign indicating that it is part of the Greenway, although midway along the trail there is a Raleigh Parks sign. The trail ends at the softball park, then picks up again about half a mile north on Sunnybrook Road at Worthdale Park. Although the map indicates that the trail continues from there to Rose Lane, in truth it appears to simply follow sidewalks through a residential neighborhood for about five blocks. At Rose Lane, the trail picks up again and becomes a more standard woodsy trail. Plans to join these trail segments together, and then eastward to the Neuse River Trail are underway.
I had trouble finding parts of this trail on my first outing, so the following report is a compilation of what I found on two outings about one week apart. Although the eastern-most end of the trail begins at the Time Warner pavilion, a sign on the gate to that facility said something about no trespassing (even though part of the gate was open) so I decided to start at the softball complex at the other end of this trail segment instead. When entering the softball complex, turn right and then take either the first or second right into the parking areas, and drive along the parking lot until you see the little yellow post (see photo at left).
The morning started out with mostly clear skies and a temperature in the low 50s. The first part of this trail segment follows the edge of an unpaved parking lot along the boundary of the park. Most of the bird activity on my arrival was out in the trees that dot the parking area. The trail eventually enters a more woodsy area beside Walnut Creek for a short distance, then passes under the Beltline (I-440) before emerging next to unpaved parking lot A-1 at the Time Warner Pavilion. The total length of this segment is probably no more than half a mile.
Birds Sighted Between Softball Complex and I-440
Red Bellied Woodpecker: In parking lot at start of trail. I saw two of these moving together between trees.
Blue Jay: Also seen from the parking lot.
American Crow: GPS N 35, 45.507, W 78, 34.910.
Brown Thrasher: In the same area where I saw the crows.
Northern Mockingbird: GPS N 35, 45.478, W 78, 34.766.
Birds Sighted Between I-440 Tunnel and Pavilion Parking
Carolina Chickadee: GPS N 35, 45.341, W 78, 34.662
Mourning Dove: Saw four of these in the same area with the chickadees.
Northern Cardinal: GPS N 35, 45.295, W 78, 34.704
Canada Goose: GPS N 35, 45.234, W 78, 34.716. There were 25 of these walking around the pavilion parking area grounds, and while I was watching them, another 41 flew by overhead.
New Species Sighted on Return Trip: The photo at left shows the point that I believe to be the beginning of the Walnut Creek Trail at Time Warner Pavilion. Parking lot A-1 is partially visible in the left of the photo.
American Robin: GPS N 35, 45.441, W 78, 34.687. Several Robins were eating berries from a high up in a tree.
Downy Woodpecker: Also in the berry tree.
Northern Flicker: GPS N 35, 45.481, W 78, 34.718. Two of these were spotted in the same tree.
White Throated Sparrow: GPS N 35, 45.487, W 78, 34.900. This was the first White Throated Sparrow that I have seen in some time.
Eastern Towhee: In same area with the sparrows.
Tufted Titmouse: GPS N 35, 45.503, W 78, 34.913.
I saw 15 species of mostly very common birds on this segment of the trail over the course of about an hour and 45 minutes. The next segment of the trail begins at Worthdale Park. It is possible to walk the one-third mile or so north on Sunnybrook until you reach the park. I actually birded the park a week earlier because I could not find the entrance to the trail inside the Time Warner Pavilion. I saw mostly similar birds at Worthdale Park, so my report below only includes new species seen.
Worthdale Park has two entrances. One is from Sunnybrook Road just south of the intersection with Middle Branch Road. The other is from 1001 Cooper Road. From the Sunnybrook entrance, a trail curls around the edge of the park, then crosses a small bridge over a tiny creek and leads to Little John Road. This segment of the Walnut Creek Trail is even shorter than the one at the softball complex. I did manage to spot 10 species of birds in about 45 minutes, but they were mostly the same common birds seen on the previous segment of the trail. The exceptions were:
Eastern Bluebird: GPS N 35, 45.814, W 78, 35.160.
Eastern Phoebe: GPS N 35, 45.824, W 78, 35.213.
White Breasted Nuthatch: Saw this one from the same area where I saw the Phoebe.
Between these two short trail segments, I saw a total of 18 species. Nothing seen was new or unusual.
I typically report a summary of the birds seen after each group of 10 trails. Trails 21-30 were walked between May 20th and October 18th and reflect summer and early fall species. The most common birds over the period were Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, American Crow, and American Robin. These were seen on at least 8 of 10 outings. Moderately common birds were Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Thrasher and White Breasted Nuthatch. These were all seen between five and seven times. The birds seen three or four times include Canada Goose, Gray Catbird, Barn Swallow, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, House Finch, Mallard, Northern Flicker, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Song Sparrow, and Turkey Vulture. Those seen only once or twice are the Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Eastern Towhee, European Starling, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Headed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Black and White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Coopers Hawk, Field Sparrow, Fish Crow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Green Heron, Hairy Woodpecker, Indigo Bunting, Northern Rough Winged Swallow, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Winged Blackbird, Summer Tanager and White Throated Sparrow. Fifteen species that had been spotted on earlier trips were not seen during the period. Some of them are migratory and will likely be returning in the next month or so.
I typically report a summary of the birds seen after each group of 10 trails. Trails 21-30 were walked between May 20th and October 18th and reflect summer and early fall species. The most common birds over the period were Northern Cardinal, Carolina Chickadee, American Crow, and American Robin. These were seen on at least 8 of 10 outings. Moderately common birds were Blue Jay, Mourning Dove, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Eastern Bluebird, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Thrasher and White Breasted Nuthatch. These were all seen between five and seven times. The birds seen three or four times include Canada Goose, Gray Catbird, Barn Swallow, Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, House Finch, Mallard, Northern Flicker, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Song Sparrow, and Turkey Vulture. Those seen only once or twice are the Chipping Sparrow, Common Grackle, Eastern Towhee, European Starling, Pileated Woodpecker, Red Headed Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Black and White Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Coopers Hawk, Field Sparrow, Fish Crow, Great Crested Flycatcher, Green Heron, Hairy Woodpecker, Indigo Bunting, Northern Rough Winged Swallow, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, Red Winged Blackbird, Summer Tanager and White Throated Sparrow. Fifteen species that had been spotted on earlier trips were not seen during the period. Some of them are migratory and will likely be returning in the next month or so.
