Start: GPS N 35,46.015, W 78, 40.659
End: GPS N 35, 46.078, W 78, 41.456
Lake Raleigh is located on NC State University's Centennial Campus. The parking lot at Lake Raleigh can be a little tricky to find. It is accessible by means of a small road that looks more like a walking path at first glance. If you have GPS, you may be able to use the address 2298 Main Campus Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603 to find the small road that leads down to the lake. If that doesn't work, start at the intersection of Main Campus Drive and Trailwood Drive, then follow Main Campus Drive for quite awhile. When you reach Initiative Way (right side only), start looking for signs about public fishing access. The small road that leads down to the lake will be on your left between Initiative Drive and Campus Shore Drive/Partners Way. Alternatively, you can use the GPS coordinates under "Start" above to pinpoint the parking lot itself.
I would divide this trail into three sections. There is the first part of the trail that skirts the edge of Lake Raleigh and from which the water is usually partly or completely visible. The second part begins when the trail pulls away from the lake to enter a more heavily wooded area. This section includes a strip of predominately evergreen trees, followed by a somewhat marshy area with more deciduous trees on the south side of the trail. The second section ends when it meets Avent Ferry Rd. However, the Walnut Creek Trail technically continues along Avent Ferry road to the southwest for a few hundred feet, turns south on Trailwood Drive, and then heads back into the woods in the direction of Lake Johnson about 100 feet from the intersection with Avent Ferry Rd. I consider this to be the third part of the trail, although I did not see much in the way of new species while walking along the roadside.
It was sunny but cool when I started, and many of the birds seemed to be just becoming active. I saw two or three species just standing in the higher branches of trees appearing to sun themselves before heading out for the day's activities.
Northern Mockingbird: I only saw one of these on the day. It was sunning itself in a tree next to my parking space.
Brown Thrasher: Also visible from the parking lot, this bird was poking around in the grass north of the lot. Later, I would see two of these together foraging in a grassy area.
Carolina Chickadee: Several times along the trail I saw a single chickadee. Could have been the same one each time for all I know. The first was near the parking lot.
Yellow Rumped Warbler: Also near the parking lot.
Eastern Bluebird: Sunning itself in a tree near the parking lot.
Bufflehead: At first I saw just a single male, but later I saw a pair plus one more male.
Ring Billed Gull: I saw nine of these flying near the dock. Later, there were probably 50 or more way off in the distance on the lake, but I couldn't see well enough to count them. It looked like they might be resting on some kind of sand bar. I did manage to see one of them use its foot to scratch its head while in flight!
Pied Billed Grebe: This was a great find for me, as it is a new bird for my lifelist. I saw it at the beginning and the end of the outing.
Great Blue Heron: This one was foraging along the lake edge.
Northern Shoveler: Three males and one female. This was a new species for my Raleigh Greenway list.
Bald Eagle: GPS N 35, 46.022, W 78, 40.678. While standing on the dock looking for ducks, a juvenile Bald Eagle flew in and landed atop one of the distant trees where the cormorants were perched. The cormorants were annoyed and tried to chase it away, but it would not go. It stayed for several minutes before moving on. Although this is my second sighting of Bald Eagles along a Capital Area Greenway trail, this is the first time I have seen one while birding for this project. So this will add another new species to the Raleigh Greenway list.
Ruby Crowned Kinglet: GPS 35, 46.062, W 78, 40.703.
Red Bellied Woodpecker: Male. This time I got a glimpse of the red patch on the belly.
Song Sparrow: GPS N 35, 46.067, W 78, 40.725.
Fish Crows: I originally saw three of these and had to verify their species by their call. Later I saw nine of them together, and again confirmed by call.
Species Sighted Along the More Wooded Western Part of the Trail:
This was the area with the short gallery of pine forest followed by some fairly marshy areas on the south side of the trail.
American Crow: GPS N 35, 46.038, W 78, 40.900. Confirmed by call.
Tufted Titmouse: GPS N 35, 46.037, W78, 40.931. I saw two of these.
Unidentified Hawk: I saw a long-tailed hawk in flight. Must have been either a Coopers or a Sharp Shinned. I have seen both previously along the Walnut Creek trail.
Red Tailed Hawk: In Flight.
Pine Warbler: GPS N 35, 46.109, W 78, 41.128. I'm pretty sure I saw at least two different individuals in the short gallery of pine trees (see photo at left).
Winter Wren: GPS N 35, 46.144, W 78, 41.186. My first Winter Wren of the year.
Downy Woodpecker: GPS N 35, 46.152, W 78, 41.207. Female.
White Breasted Nuthatch: In same area with Downy Woodpecker.
New Species Sighted Roadside Along Avent Ferry and Trailwood Drive:
Avent Ferry Road is quite busy, and the traffic may keep many birds away. However, the sidewalk that represents this part of the Walnut Creek Trail does run along a marshy, wooded area which probably attracts some birds. I only saw two or three species, and only one was new for the day.
Northern Cardinal: Male.
White Throated Sparrow: GPS N 35, 46.173, W 78, 41.254. At least five.
Mute Swan: GPS N 35, 46.035, W 78, 40.901. These are supposed to be rare in Raleigh at this time of year, but I have seen one at Lake Lynn this winter, and now one at Lake Raleigh.
Wood Duck: Male. I have not seen a Wood Duck in many years, and never here in North Carolina. This is probably because I usually bird in the woods rather than along bodies of water. Wood Ducks were my grandmother's favorite birds and every time I see one I think of her and how she prompted my interest in birds.
Belted Kingfisher: GPS N 35, 46.058, W 78, 40.820.
Turkey Vulture: GPS N 35, 46.055, W 78, 40.696. At least one and possibly two of these circling over campus in the distance.
Canada Goose: It is kind of amazing that I only saw one Canada Goose on a lake of this size, and only at the end of the day.
This was my most productive solo birding outing ever. Thirty-Two (32) species identified, a new addition to my lifelist, and six new additions to the Raleigh Greenway list (Bufflehead, Pied Billed Grebe, Northern Shoveler, Bald Eagle, Mute Swan, Wood Duck). I would definitely recommend Lake Raleigh as a place to come birding in the winter. Lots of species variety, a pleasant atmosphere, and very uncrowded, at least on a Sunday morning.
