Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve (Wake County, NC)

Overview: Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, a 23-acre Triangle Land Conservancy property with a 1-mile trail that connects to the Birkhaven Greenway, conserves a floodplain forest community that is teeming with life. In spring, visitors to the nature preserve can discover a variety of ephemeral wildflowers, herps and birds hiding in the hardwood bottomlands.


Directions: Please visit the Triangle Land Conservancy (TLC) website for complete directions.


Observations & Ponderings: The TLC brochure at the entrance to this delightful urban oasis boldly proclaimed that visitors could encounter "a medley of wildflowers" in spring, territorial green anoles that bob their heads and inflate their red throat sacks, and a host of birds including the tiny ruby-crowned kinglet that is featured in a gorgeous photograph. To be honest, I had my doubts; but after spending a few hours hiking the 1-mile trail system, I was a believer!

From Triangle Naturalist

Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

The first thing that impresses a spring visitor to Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve is the startling density of spring ephemerals. The fertile floodplain was covered by a carpet of spring beauties (Claytonia virginica), interspersed with trout lilies (Erythronium umbillicatum), cutleaf toothworts (Cardamine concatenata) and delicate, trembling bloodroots (Sanguinaria canadensis). Yes, a veritable "medley of wildflowers" thriving on high north facing bluffs and in rich floodplain soil.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Mark W. Cagle)

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Mark W. Cagle)

Trout lily (Erythronium umbillicatum), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Mark W. Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Viola spp, Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

With my senses overwhelmed by this ephemeral display, at first I hardly noticed the auditory assault of southeastern chorus frogs, vireos and woodpeckers. Then I heard a red-tailed hawk overhead, next a red-shouldered hawk -- I looked up and high above the preserve both of these magnificent buteos soared, goading eachother to go higher and higher. Then a tiny flash of olive-yellow flitted past, it stopped for a moment in the greenbriers (Smilax spp.): a ruby crowned kinglet! Again, the brochure lived up to its promise.

The trail along Swift Creek continued, with every bend yielding more colorful flowers and birds. Eventually, we made our way back toward the parking lot, taking the trail through the "overcup oak swamp." This area of the preserve was truly enchanted, with overcup oaks towering above. Here, we even found the first snake of the season, a small northern brown snake (Storeria dekayi). And the surprises weren't over: on the log, right before we reached the gravel parking lot, was a male green anole bobbing his head and inflating his red sack. Again, Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve kept its word!

From Triangle Naturalist

Overcup oak (Quercus lyrata) leaves, Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Northern brown snake (Storeria deyaki), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Northern brown snake (Storeria deyaki), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

From Triangle Naturalist

Green anole (Anolis caroliniensis), Swift Creek Bluffs Preserve, Wake County, NC, 22 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette Cagle)

Eno River State Park (Few's Ford Access): Cox Mountain Trail

Overview: Eno River State Park hosts a number of easy to moderate trails, and a few more difficult ones, for the weekend hiker. If you're looking for a challenging hike in a variety of Piedmont habitats, try the Cox Mountain Trail. This 3.75 mile trail begins at the Few's Ford picnic area and quickly takes you down to the Eno River, where you will cross the suspension bridge. Follow the signs for Cox Mountain trail, and you will begin to ascend Cox Mountain itself (there is a 270 foot elevation change from the river to the top of Cox Mountain). Once you reach the top of the mountain, you will walk along a small creek and then the Eno River, before heading back towards the suspension bridge.

Directions: The park is divided into five access points. The Cox Mountain Trail is found at the Few's Ford access, located just at the northern end of Cole Mill Road (maps & directions here).


Observations & Ponderings: Walking along the Cox Mountain trail in early March offers even the casual observer an addictive taste of the wonders of the natural world. In early spring, some of the most beautiful flowers of the year burst forth from the cold earth, bedecking the brown leaf litter with snowy white, gold and amethystine accents. These spring ephemerals, which seem to disappear before the heat of summer arrives, include trout lilies (Erythronium americanum), spring beauties (Claytonia virginica) and round-lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana).

Round lobed hepatica (Hepatica americana) at Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain trail, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

Trout lily (Erythronium americanum) at Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain trail, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

After crossing the suspension bridge that spans the Eno River, and walking along a well-worn path, a brown sign indicates the turn-off for the Cox Mountain trail. Here begins the steep climb to the top of the mountain. The ground is noticably rockier and drier, and fallen trees are strewn across the ridge, toppled by hurricane winds. Even the fauna changes: instead of ground skinks, one might see an eastern fence lizard (Scleroporus undulatus) basking in the harsh sun on this hilltop.

Cox Mountain trail at Eno River State Park, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

Eastern fence lizard (Scleroporus undulatus) at Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain trail, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

Here, I take a moment to enjoy the stunning views of rolling hills that remind us that we are truly in the Piedmont, the foothills of Appalachia. My mind wanders. What intrepid travelers first saw these same views? Had the Eno indians climbed this same mountain? Did the explorer-naturalist Bartram pass this way? Maybe the Cox family was the first to explore the great hill. Or, perhaps, I am the first to ever see these sights. I would love to re-live that moment, when the first man or woman stood on this ridge. What did they see? How have things changed? Were there more northern red oaks then? Was the soil richer? How many lizards were startled by their arrival? Did they see elk browsing in the distance or maybe a bear snacking on sun-ripened berries?

A snapping twig break the reverie, and I continue down the trail. Here, the trail runs first along a small creek that was recently bifurcated by a fallen tree limb and now trickles down the trail as well. The creek runs into the rocky Eno River and suddenly, the din of calling chorus frogs fills the air.

View of the Eno River along the Cox Mountain trail at Eno River State Park, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle).

Three shallow, ephemeral pools line the trail here, providing breeding habitat for frogs and toads. The evidence of these midnight rendezvous is apparent: gelatinous green frog (Rana clamitans) eggs stuck to twigs beneath the water's surface.

Green frog (Rana clamitans) eggs at Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain trail, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

The trail continues, looping around the base of the mountain, marching pass enchanting painted buckeyes (Aesculus sylvatica), about to burst open, until finally bringing you back to the suspension bridge, back to the lovely spring ephemerals and then back to the concrete world.

Painted buckeye (Aesculus sylvatica) at Eno River State Park, Cox Mountain trail, 8 Mar 2009 (© Nicolette L. Cagle)

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: March in the Piedmont - Fauna

Birds.− As spring arrives in the Piedmont this month, we begin to see some profound changes in the composition of our avifauna. Wood-ducks, blue-winged teals (local breeders), double-crested cormorants and ospreys become more abundant. Also expect to begin seeing vireos, ruby-throated hummingbirds, purple martins and other swallow species this month. Lucky observers may even catch sight of a snowy egret, little blue heron, Mississippi kite, blue grosbeak, indigo bunting or some sandpiper species and early warblers (e.g., black-and-white, prothonotary, yellow-throated, blue-winged, Tennessee). However, don’t expect to catch any more rare sightings of snow geese or mute swans.



Butterflies.− This month, butterfly watchers may begin to find hairstreaks (including the red-banded, gray, juniper, and great purple) and swallowtails (e.g., black and eastern tiger). If you want to find zebra swallowtails, be sure to look in the right sort of habitat: breeding takes place in rich, moist woodlands often near rivers and swamplands. In fact, zebra swallowtail larvae will only feed on paw-paw (Asimina spp.), although adults may fly out to the forest edge to enjoy nectar from a variety of sources including milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and the eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis).

Lucky observers may find Henry’s elfins and eastern pine elfins, while definitely spotting a lot more cabbage whites, sulphurs, spring azures, question marks, eastern commas and mourning cloaks. Towards the end of the month, keep your eyes open for sleeper, Juvenal’s and Horace’s duskywings, adults of which are often seen perched on bare ground, including dirt roads and trails, where they glean minerals.

Reptiles & Amphibians.− This month, expect to continue hearing southeastern chorus frogs, spring peepers, northern cricket frogs, American toads, pickerel frogs and eastern spadefoots. Fowler’s toads, bullfrogs and green frogs will start calling this month, but don’t expect large choruses until April. Continue to look for breeding salamanders. Also, be on the lookout for basking yellow-bellied sliders and the occasional black-rat snake or racer.