Impromptu trips seem to be the best. So was the case when we decided to head to MMP in Gatesville, NC yesterday morning. The sky was clear blue and the water level way up-so far up the walk-ways were submerged. Tried a totally new route into Lassiter Swamp which proved to be spectacular. We saw a large buck run run into the pond and back into the woods just as a turkey left a daytime roost in a Cypress. Two "leaping" beavers splashed into the water and Canada Geese honked along most of the day. The moss was spectacular and many trees boasted Spanish moss, Resurrection fern and mistletoe. Many stands of Beauty Berry were seen along the way. Most birds were heard and not seen-the whole day was absolutely beautiful. Here's a few birds that I recall:
Winter wren-in full song
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Mallard
Wood duck
Eastern Phoebe
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Flicker
Downy
Hairy
Pileated
Yellow-bellied sapsucker
and all the tufted, carolina, white-breasted woodland birds you would expect.
JulieK
