Trail 54: Crabtree Creek Trail - Anderson Point Park to I-440

05/02/2015.  9:20 AM.

Start:  GPS N 35, 46.347, W 78, 32.520
End:   GPS N 35, 46.968, W 78, 34.456

The eastern extension of the Crabtree Creek Trail was completed in December 2014.  It lengthens the trail to 14.6 miles, and connects the Buckeye segment to the Neuse River Trail at Anderson Point Park. For this outing, I began at Anderson Point Park and followed the trail for about 2 miles until I reached the I-440 and US 64 Interchange. The GPS coordinates above labeled "Start" indicate the location of the parking lot where I left my car. It is perhaps 50 yards from there to the trailhead.

It has been almost three months since I birded this part of the trail. I didn't have time to report on it before leaving the country for the summer, so my recollections are a bit hazy. I will simply divide the trail into two sections - the first from Anderson Point Park to Mile Marker 1, and the second from the marker to the I-440 interchange. As I look at my bird list, I see that there was a natural break at about the 1 mile mark, as I did not see any new species between Mile Marker 1 and the next marker a quarter of a mile later.

The first mile of the trail seemed to be more open. This may be due to the power lines that cross the trail and allow for some open vistas. The second mile of the trail was more woodsy.

Species Sighted Between Anderson Point Park and Mile Marker 1:

Brown Thrasher:  GPS N 35, 46.347, W 78, 32.520.

Northern Cardinal:  GPS N 35, 46.336, W 78, 32.612. I saw at least five of these on the day, probably more.

European Starling:  In the same area with the first Northern Cardinals.

Canada Geese:  In Flight.  GPS N 35, 46.338, W 78, 32.675.


Cooper's Hawk:  GPS N 35, 46.368, W 78, 32.768. It was doing a great deal of calling and may have been nesting in the area.

Carolina Chickadee:  In same area as Cooper's Hawk.

Northern Mockingbird:  GPS N 35, 46.373, W 78, 32.864.

American Crow:  Saw at least 13 of these on the day.

Rock Pigeon:  Saw only one of these, perched on a bridge strut.

Great Blue Heron:  GPS N 35, 46.483, W 78, 32.960.

Black Vulture:  GPS N 35, 46.499, W 78, 33.028.

Eastern Towhee:  GPS N 35, 46.535, W 78, 33.057.

Indigo Bunting:  In the same area with the Towhee. I believe this is only the second time I have seen this species on the Raleigh Greenways.  A nice find.

Mourning Dove:  Perched on one of the powerlines.

Belted Kingfisher:  GPS N 35, 46.633, W 78, 33.179. In flight near a pond in the woods.

American Robin:  Same area as the Kingfisher. There were surprisingly few Robins visible on the day.

Summer Tanager:  GPS N 35, 46.600, W 78, 33.230. Another bird I have seen only a couple of times on the Greenways.

Blue Grosbeak:  GPS N 35, 46.601, W 78, 33.263.  Yet another uncommon bird.

Pileated Woodpecker:  In the same area as the Blue Grosbeak.  I heard it calling a few times, then caught sight of it in flight.

New Species Sighted Between Mile Marker 1 and the I-440 Interchange:

Blue Jay: GPS N 35, 46.819, W 78, 33.583.

White Throated Sparrow:  Near where the Blue Jays were seen.

Yellow Rumped Warbler:  GPS N 35, 46.977, W 78, 34.096.

New Species Sighted on the Return Trip to Anderson Point Park:

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher:  GPS N 35, 46.978, W 78, 34.273.

Red Tailed Hawk:  GPS N 35, 47.000, W 78, 33.904.

A total of 24 species were observed on this outing. No new species were seen, but four birds that I have only seen occasionally were identified along the trail - Indigo Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Summer Tanager, and Pileated Woodpecker.  All in all, a good day.