How to Get There: Signs are posted on Old NC 75, also called Old Oxford Highway. From the signed parking areas gravel roads lead deep into the area.
Facilities: None.
When to visit: All seasons provide excellent birding.
In winter the impoundments hold good numbers of waterfowl, the fields have Bobwhite and Turkey. White-crowned Sparrow can be seen near the second parking area of Brickhouse Rd. Mississippi Kite are present in late summer and fall. A myriad of migratory birds can be seen here in spring and fall. Blue Grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting's and Orchard Oriole in summer. The swampy areas have Barred and Great Horned Owls and many cavity nesters.
2 Interstate 85 Railroad Grade^^
How to Get There: Heading north on Interstate 85 take the last exit before the bridge, and turn left onto Red Mill Road. Follow until the road makes a sharp left turn and park in the bend of that turn. Follow a well worn fisherman trail to the Railroad tracks, follow the tracks east crossing a small trestle at Ellerbe Creek. You can keep walking another 3/4 mile to a large trestle crossing the Eno/Knapp of Reeds. It is illegal and dangerouse to cross this trestle.
Access to the east side of the tracks is by continuing north on I-85 to the US 15 exit, turn left and proceed about a mile to where the tracks parallel the road. Park at a cable gate and follow the four wheeler trail to the lake.
Facilities: None.
When to visit: Any season will be productive.
Osprey, wading birds, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Bald Eagles nest in the area. Prothonotary Warbler and Tree Swallow nest in the snags along the lake shore. In fall if the water is low shorebirds can be found on the exposed mud flats.
3 Will Suitt Road^^
How to Get There: Heading north on Interstate 85 take the first exit after the bridge for US 15. Turn right and travel about 1/2 mile and turn right onto Will Suitt Road. Park on the right at the gated path. Follow the path about a mile, cross a small trestle, the mud flats are on your left when the lake is low.
Facilities: None
When to visit: Late Summer and Fall.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper and American Golden-Plover have been sighted here recently in addition to both Yellowlegs, Western, Semipalmated, Least, Spotted, Solitary, Stilt and Pectoral Sandpipers and Dowitchers. Bairds and White-rumped Sandpiper, Black Terns and plovers also stop over. Also Yellow Rail have been seen in the area.
4 Cheek Road Bridge & Olive Grove Church Game Lands^^
How to Get There: About six miles north of the Bridge on Highway 50 turn left onto Old Weaver Trail. After three miles turn left onto Boyce Road or continue straight.
Facilities: There are no developed facilities.
When to visit: Any season will be productive.
From the bridge Cliff and Barn Swallows, Osprey, and wading birds can be seen in spring and summer. Rare coastal birds have been seen here. The game lands have Turkey, Northern Bobwhite and an occasional Savannah Sparrow in winter. Waterfowl and Bald Eagles can be seen from the southern tip of the game lands, looking across the lake to Rollingview peninsula.
5 Rollingview Recreation Area**
How to Get There: Baptist road off Highway 98 four miles east of Durham.
Facilities: Campground, hiking trails, restrooms, fishing piers, swim beach and picnicking.
When to visit: Any season will be productive.
In winter Common Loons, Horned Grebe, Bald eagle, Gulls, occasional Terns and other hurricane stranded birds can be seen from the boat beach. The point is a good area for fallout migratory land birds. A flock of ducks and Mergansers can be seen in winter from the campground fishing pier.
6 Woodpecker Ridge**
How to Get There: Off Highway 50 two miles north of 98.
When to Visit: Any season, spring usually best.
Facilities: None.
Migrating birds can be seen here in spring and fall and as many as 20 species of Warblers have been seen here. Red-headed Woodpecker, Great Horned Owl, Wood Duck and Brown-headed Nuthatches nest in the many tree cavities. Osprey nest along the shore, Bald Eagles nest nearby. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Wood Thrush, Ovenbird, Vireo's and both Tanagers are present.
7 Sandling Beach**
How to Get There: Sandling Beach Recreation area is off Highway 50 four miles north of Highway 98.
When to visit: Winter.
Facilities: Swim beach, restrooms, picnicking, trails.
Large rafts of ducks and Mergansers can be seen from the beach as well as Horned Grebes and Common Loon. Each night as many as 10,000 Ring-billed and Herring Gull's roost just offshore. Lesser and Greater Black-backed Gulls can occasionally be picked out.
8 Beaverdam Reservoir**^^
How to Get There: Head north on Highway 50 and turn right four miles after Highway 98 to enter the Highway 50 Boat Ramps for the spillway. Continue another four miles and turn right onto Old Weaver Trail for the causeway.
When to Visit: Any season, winter usually best.
Facilities: Swim beach, restrooms, picnicking, piers.
In winter, waterfowl can be seen from the spillway and the Old Weaver Trail Causeway. Bonaparte's Gulls, Merganser's and Grebes are also present. American Kestrel and other hawks occur on the causeway. In spring Cliff and Barn Swallows can be seen on the causeway. Fox Sparrow abound in the game lands along the eastern shore in winter.
9 New Light Creek ^^
How to Get There: From 98 head north on New Light Road and turn right onto Purnell. Park at the bridge or continue and turn left onto Woodlief Road.
Facilities: None
When to visit: Summer
Osprey nest where the creek flows into Falls Lake. In winter Bonaparte's Gulls can be seen on the creek and perched on the flooded timber. Cliff and Barn Swallows nest under Purnell Road Bridge. Tree swallows nest in some of the flooded trees. Brown-headed Nuthatches, Wood Duck, Common Yellowthroat and Great Crested Flycatchers also nest up the creek. South of Woodlief Road bridge Prothonotary Warbler and green heron can be seen.
10 Blue Jay Point County Park** & Upper & Lower Barton's Creek^^
How to Get There: From the I-440 beltline in Raleigh, take Six Forks Road north. The County Park is on your right, in between the bridges for both Barton's Creek.
Facilities: visitor center, picnicking, playground, play fields, hiking trails.
When to visit: Any season will be productive.
A nest box trail is by the visitor center. Many wood warblers can be seen in spring. Both Barton's Creek bridges have nesting Cliff, Barn and Tree Swallows. Waterfowl and occasional shorebirds can be seen in winter. The water tower in the small community of Bayleaf has large numbers of Black and Turkey Vultures.
11 Falls Lake Dam**
How to Get There: Parking is off Falls Of the Neuse Road south of Highway 98.
Facilities: The Dam has a visitor center with bathrooms and a few picnic sites. The Tailrace area has a parking lot and bathroom, and both areas have a few picnic tables.
When to visit: Any season will be productive
Cliff Swallow nest in large numbers on the outflow structure of the dam. Louisiana Waterthrush can be seen below the dam in spring and summer. In winter, waterfowl and the large gull flock can be seen en route to the landfill.
12 Durant Road Landfill**
How to Get There: Off Falls of the Neuse or US1 turn onto Durant Road. The landfill is to the north. Obtain permission to enter the landfill at 856-6202.
Facilities: restrooms.
When to visit: Winter.
The landfill is home to Fish Crow and the large 10,000+ flock of Gulls that migrate from Sandling Beach each day in winter to feed at the landfill. Comprised mostly of Ring-billed Gulls, Herring, Greater and Lesser Black-backed Gulls can be seen.
13 Durant Nature Park**
How to Get There: Off Falls of the Neuse or US1 turn onto Durant Road. Durant Nature Park is to the south.
Facilities: restrooms, picnicking and trails.
When to visit: Any season, spring usually best.
Wood Thrush, Tanagers and Vireo's inhabit the Nature Park in spring and summer, in winter the ponds will have some waterfowl and shorebirds.
**State, County or City Park land that does not allow hunting.
^^Game Land areas where hunting is allowed. Check local regulations for Butner Game Lands. Sunday birding advised from mid September to mid January in high volume areas.