Deep Fork visits Deep Fork

Deep Fork visits Deep Fork

On 13 November 2010 we visited the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge.

We explored the southeastern stretch of the refuge, starting with the boardwalk at Cussetah Bottoms. When we arrived at the parking area, we were greeted by two Pileated Woodpeckers who flew over our heads and called and displayed from nearby trees. When we walked down into the woods there were swarms of Red-headed Woodpeckers chattering and climbing the trees. Down at the creek we flushed several Wood Ducks and saw a Barred Owl perched across the "field". (Water levels were low, so what might be a marsh in other seasons was totally dry.) Walking along the boardwalk, we saw many White-throated Sparrows in the understory.

Next we visted the Railroad Trail which follows the Deep Fork River in the southeastern corner of the refuge. We saw a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on an American beech tree, the sixth woodpecker species for the morning! We stood on the platform overlooking the river, finally meeting our namesake.

Here's the list of bird species we observed: Wood Duck, Turkey Vulture, Barred Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Red-headed Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dark-eyed Junco, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Meadowlark, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch.