[va-bird] Re: White's Lake
- From: "WILLIAM and THERESE Leigh" <leightern@xxxxxxx>
- To: cplaing@xxxxxxxxxxxx, va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 18:38:35 +0000
Carol,
White's lake is about 5 minutes from my office and offers excellent birding. However, it has lost a lot of habitat during the last 5 years and isn't as great as it used to be.
To get there take I 81 North to the route 50/17/522 exit in Winchester which is also the exit for Shenandoah University and the Mall. Head West off the ramp and you will pass the Mall on your left within a block. Keep on this road which turns to Jubal Early and go through several lights and over a bridge. At the intersection of Rt 11 and Jubal Early continue straight through this light as well ( at this point I don't recall if the road is still called Jubal Early) Within ~2 blocks at a bend in the road you will find a cluvert with a small stream. Park nearby and beside the stream you will see a small bicycle path which will take you through the first part of the wetland area. At the end of the paved path you will have bushwack to the railroad tracks and follow the tracks to White's lake. Another alternative and one which I usually use is to immediately get on the tracks near the stream. This gives you better shots at some of the better birdy spots along the way.
Birds of note that I have seen in the past include:
Virginia Rails, Merlin, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great horned Owl, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's warblers, Blue-winged Warbler, Blackburnian, Cape May,Tenessee, Magnolia, Redstart, Northerna and Louisanna Waterthrush, Marsh Wren, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-neck Grebe, Rusty Blackbird, Sora,
American Bittern has been seen there but not by me and I thought I heard King Rail there one time. I also saw a 3 legged Mink hunting baby Mallards. I was quite surprised that it failed to catch one but it did. Best times to bird this area are Spring Migration ~5-4-----5-24 and Fall migration and during cold weather snaps when other lakes freeze. White's lake is spring fed and doesn't freeze over. Waders are needed to completely explore the wetlands but I can't really recommend that as this area has lots of very deep
mucky silt areas which can be really difficult to get around in even with waders. Most areas can be seen from the tracks anyway.
William Leigh
Bridgewater VA
leightern@xxxxxxx
From: "Carol Laing" <cplaing@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: cplaing@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: "Va-Bird" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [va-bird] White's Lake
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:04:42 -0500
>Does anyone know where Whites Lake is in Winchester. I can't find it on
>Google search. thanks
>
>Carol
>
>You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
>va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
>
You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
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- References:
- [va-bird] White's Lake
- From: Carol Laing
Other related posts:
- » [va-bird] White's Lake
- » [va-bird] Re: White's Lake
Carol,
White's lake is about 5 minutes from my office and offers excellent birding. However, it has lost a lot of habitat during the last 5 years and isn't as great as it used to be.
To get there take I 81 North to the route 50/17/522 exit in Winchester which is also the exit for Shenandoah University and the Mall. Head West off the ramp and you will pass the Mall on your left within a block. Keep on this road which turns to Jubal Early and go through several lights and over a bridge. At the intersection of Rt 11 and Jubal Early continue straight through this light as well ( at this point I don't recall if the road is still called Jubal Early) Within ~2 blocks at a bend in the road you will find a cluvert with a small stream. Park nearby and beside the stream you will see a small bicycle path which will take you through the first part of the wetland area. At the end of the paved path you will have bushwack to the railroad tracks and follow the tracks to White's lake. Another alternative and one which I usually use is to immediately get on the tracks near the stream. This gives you better shots at some of the better birdy spots along the way.
Birds of note that I have seen in the past include:
Virginia Rails, Merlin, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great horned Owl, Mourning Warbler, Wilson's warblers, Blue-winged Warbler, Blackburnian, Cape May,Tenessee, Magnolia, Redstart, Northerna and Louisanna Waterthrush, Marsh Wren, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Red-neck Grebe, Rusty Blackbird, Sora,
American Bittern has been seen there but not by me and I thought I heard King Rail there one time. I also saw a 3 legged Mink hunting baby Mallards. I was quite surprised that it failed to catch one but it did. Best times to bird this area are Spring Migration ~5-4-----5-24 and Fall migration and during cold weather snaps when other lakes freeze. White's lake is spring fed and doesn't freeze over. Waders are needed to completely explore the wetlands but I can't really recommend that as this area has lots of very deep
mucky silt areas which can be really difficult to get around in even with waders. Most areas can be seen from the tracks anyway.
Bridgewater VA
leightern@xxxxxxx
From: "Carol Laing" <cplaing@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: cplaing@xxxxxxxxxxxx
To: "Va-Bird" <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [va-bird] White's Lake
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 11:04:42 -0500
>Does anyone know where Whites Lake is in Winchester. I can't find it on
>Google search. thanks
>
>Carol
>
>You are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing list, simply send email to va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send email to
>va-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
>
- [va-bird] White's Lake
- From: Carol Laing