Salk

On the morning of March 13, 2011, my daughter and I spent a little over two hours walking 3.3 miles on the first section of the trail. It was very pleasant with temperatures ranging from around fifty into the seventies.

The creek was flowing, the Carolina Jessamine and Eastern Redbuds (also known as Judas-tree) were blooming and the Red Maples were displaying their winged fruits. As the morning warmed, we saw dozens of Orangetip Falcates (butterflies), which are tiny little beauties that only appear from the middle of March to the middle of May. Northern Parulas (warblers) were singing and numerous Chipping Sparrows were feeding along the trail. We heard Blue Jays, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Pileated Woodpecker. There were lingering Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows. There were many Cardinals in their spring finery and we also saw Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Goldfinches, two Wood Ducks, Titmice, a Brown Thrasher and Carolina Wrens. There was a flock of thirty-four Robins at the Visitor Center.