North Carolina county #36 Tallulah Bog
I found Tallulah Bog through the Carolina Bird Club. This is not a real park or maintained greenway – “It is a 235-acre site that was purchased by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) as a wetland mitigation bank for surface transportation projects in western North Carolina.” according to https://www.carolinabirdclub.org/birdingnc/.
It held real promise – it is basically empty land that no one goes to (except the rare birder) and it showed as a pretty productive hotspot on ebird. The entrance looked like this.
I had been lucky with the rain so far but there were threatening storm clouds approaching and it was hot and very humid. Hundreds of little bugs jumped away every time I took a step, but at least there was a mowed path. Unfortunately it was clear that it had been months since the last mowing since some of the weeds grew to waist height.
I got a quick look at another Red-eyed Vireo and a Pileated Woodpecker on the move. A Red-shouldered Hawk flew above when I came to an opening. I don’t know if it was the late and hot afternoon or the approaching storm, but there were no warblers.
I wasn’t able to get any photos of birds and I only saw 9 species. After and hour and a quarter, thunder started rumbling and I had to take my leave. That’s birding – sometimes they are just not around. Still, it’s the sort of place that ought to have lots of birds, so I would give it another try if I am back in the area.
