Trip Report

Lake Lure: Morse Park &

Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail

January 16-20, 2021

Guide: Simon Thompson

It was a cloudy and cool start to the day (actually well below freezing – brrrr!) but thankfully there was no wind. A surprise was the fact that the water level Lake Lure had been drawn down for dam repair so there was little to no water in the marina area. Even the small ponds around the park were virtually dry with icy borders and small groups of stranded (now dead) frozen fish. The were a few birds in the park and a walk produced the following: small flocks of Cedar Waxwings feeding on the holl berries, several Great Blue Herons, a very obliging Swamp Sparrow and most surprising of all, an Eastern Phoebe which flew down onto the icy mud, picked up and swallowed a frozen small fish.

After a brief stop at a nearby lake along Girl Scout Camp Road, which had several beautiful drake Bufflehead, we walked several of the trails at Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail Park. Originally started in 2006 on wooded property adjacent to the municipal golf course, there are now over 3 miles of trails which run through various woodland habitats. Despite the somewhat scruffy pine woodland there were quite a few birds, and with some gentle “pishing” we brought in good numbers of Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse and a beautiful male Pine Warbler.

The trails were quite easy and wide with some slight hills so it made for an easy walk. By the time we finished the first Turkey Vultures were flying around and the best bird of the walk was a Brown Creeper that was feeding inconspicuously in the pines. The snow was falling by the time I got back to my house that afternoon, so our timing was very good!

 

Birds Seen or Heard on our
Lake Lure: Morse Park & Dittmer-Watts Nature Trail Day Trip
January 30, 2021

Lake Lure: Species Encountered: 41 species

Canada Goose
Mallard
Bufflehead
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker

    Eastern Phoebe
    Blue Jay
    American Crow           
    Carolina Chickadee
    Tufted Titmouse
    White-breasted Nuthatch
    Brown-headed Nuthatch (Heard)
    Golden-crowned Kinglet
    Ruby-crowned Kinglet
    Brown Creeper
    Winter Wren (Heard)
    Carolina Wren
    Northern Mockingbird

    Eastern Bluebird
    American Robin
    Cedar Waxwing
    House Finch
    Purple Finch (Heard)
    American Goldfinch
    Chipping Sparrow
    White-throated Sparrow
    Song Sparrow
    Swamp Sparrow
    Eastern Towhee
    Pine Warbler
    Yellow-rumped Warbler
    Northern Cardinal