Finding Birds in Guilford County: Birding Lake Higgins

          Lake Higgins, the western-most of the three Greensboro lakes in the reservoir system, is on the northern edge of Greensboro just off US 220, called Battleground Avenue in the city. It is administered by the City of Greensboro, the marinas and adjacent trails being under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Department. For information about hours, programs, and services, call 336-545-5333, or contact the marina directly at the phone numbers listed below. For trails information, call 336-545-5961 or 336-545-5955.
         The marina offers the most accessible birding on the lake. To reach it from I-40/I-85, it is necessary to get on Wendover Avenue first. If coming from the south or east, first head north on US 29 and then take the Wendover Avenue exit west toward the city center, or if coming from the west on I-40, take the Wendover Avenue exit and head east toward the city center. Once on Wendover Avenue, take the Battleground Avenue north/Westover Terrace exit and drive north away from Greensboro’s central business district.
          In orientation the lake lies southwest (the shallow end) to northeast (the dam end). Lake Higgins, the smallest of the three municipal reservoirs at 280 acres, has gained notoriety among both birders and non-birders as the only known breeding site of Bald Eagles in the Northern Piedmont. Prior to the arrival of the eagles, it was remembered by birders for a trio of Sandhill Cranes that visited a nearby pasture in the early 1980s and for a Black Scoter spotted on the lake near the marina in the early 1990s.
Lake Higgins Marina — The marina is located at 4235 Hamburg Mill Road. For a trail brochure, fee schedule, and information about nature programs at Lake Higgins, call the marina at 336-643-4295.
         Most people will approach Lake Higgins from Greensboro on Battleground Avenue (US 220). At about 6.8 miles north of Wendover Avenue, watch on the left (west) side of the road for the Lake Higgins dam and on the right side for the open water of nearby Lake Brandt (see below). At this point there is a wide shoulder that provides an unofficial parking area. Particularly in spring and fall the trees and shrubs around the spillway on both sides of the road are productive for passerines, Great Blue Herons (all year), Green Herons (summer), and Great Egrets (late summer).
          Continue north about 0.3 mile to the first intersection, Hamburg Mill Road, and turn left (west). Go about 0.4 mile to the entrance gate of the marina, which is on the left. Proceed down the hill toward the lake and park in a designated area. (When making birding plans, note that the hours a variable by the season, and the marina is closed on Mondays.) There are restrooms and snack machines in the Park Ranger’s office.
           The Park Ranger usually keeps a bird feeder filled in front of the office. It’s always a good idea to check the feeder and the surrounding trees and telephone lines for birds before continuing. In spring sometimes there are migrating warblers in the Bradford pear trees around the building. Purple Martins occupy the "high rise" boxes next to the boat house during late spring and summer.
           There is a hatchery pond just to the east of the building. If you are there just after the gates open and before there is much activity on the lake, scan the trees around the pond and along the edge of the lake all the way east to the dam; Bald Eagles sometimes perch in the trees in this area. Throughout the morning watch for an eagle gliding by or soaring overhead. It is worth a walk around the pond to check the pond and lake edges and the picnic area. During migration Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers seem attracted to this site, and Belted Kingfishers often perch on the waterside snags year round. The picnic area is a good place for Brown-headed Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, woodland edge birds such as Blue Jays, and Yellow-rumped Warblers (primarily in fall and winter).
            After exploring around the hatchery pond, walk back across the parking lot past the boathouse and toward the dock. In the right season, this is the most reliable place in northern Guilford County to see American Coots (although a large flock of coots usually may be found at the marina on Oak Hollow Lake in High Point in the southwest of the county). The dock at the Lake Higgins Marina provides a good panorama of the northeastern two-thirds of the lake, including the dam. There always seem to be a few Mallards around, and in winter the deeper water attracts diving ducks such as Ruddy Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, and Buffleheads. In the coves look for rafts of Hooded Mergansers, and a few Green-winged Teal. This isn’t the best place for gulls in Guilford County, but there often are a few Bonaparte’s flying around in winter among the Ring-billed Gulls.
            In years when the lake freezes, a few areas of open water concentrates the ducks near the marina and makes for interesting birding. One year Bald Eagles could be seen perched on the ice and feeding on fish in the middle of the frozen area. Land birds are sometimes abundant in the shrubs near the dock.
            There is a large grassy lawn behind the marina buildings, and a grove of pine trees near the road. Several Bluebird boxes have been installed here and this species nearly always can be seen in the grassy area, and the pine grove. Check the birds at the boxes carefully, however, because Tree Swallows sometime nest in them. The pine grove is a good spot for Brown-headed Nuthatches, Chipping Sparrows, Pine Warblers, and Northern Flickers. Chickadees, Titmice, and White-breasted Nuthatches, as well as Eastern Towhees and Northern Cardinals, are common along the woodland edge. There is a small parking lot outside the fence from which the pine grove and woods edge can be observed even when the marina gate is closed.
              There are hiking trails around the lake for woodland and lake edge birding. The shortest is the half mile Lake Higgins Trail loop which begins and ends at the marina. The trailhead of the Bald Eagle Trail (3.0 miles one way), which follows the north shore of the lake to Fleming Road, is at the small parking area outside the marina fence, so it can be walked even when the marina is closed.
              In addition, the lake may be birded by boat, and fishing is pretty good, too. There is a modest fee for launching a private boat, and canoes may be rented, but birding the trails, grounds and dock is free.
              Without a boat or a long walk, birders have limited access to the western end of the lake. However, two spots are available by car where Lewiston and Carlson Dairy Roads cross the lake.
               Of the two, the Lewiston Road Causeway usually is the most productive but both are worth checking in winter for waterfowl

Lewiston Road Causeway — From the marina, turn left (west) and go about 1.1 mile to the "T" intersection with Pleasant Ridge Road. Turn left (south) and at 0.1 mile take the left fork onto Lewiston Road (not a hard left onto Carlson Dairy Road). Follow Lewiston 1.0 mile to the bridge. The road margin is wide enough to allow vehicles to pull well off the pavement, which is important for safety since the traffic at times can be quite heavy and fast. At the point where Lewiston Road crosses the southwestern end of the lake, the water usually is shallow and forms is a nice marsh that often attracts a few ducks and herons. Birding the causeway near the bridge and along the woods edge can be quite good at times, particularly when the water level is low.
         Look for Wood Ducks (nest boxes have been put out in the marsh) and Mallards throughout the year, and American Black Ducks (uncommon), Green-winged Teal, Gadwalls, and American Coots in late fall and winter. A Great Blue Heron almost always is around, and Belted Kingfishers often fly by. Near the bridge and along the causeway watch for Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Purple Martin, Northern Rough-winged Swallow in summer, and Blue Jay, Carolina Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and other woodland edge birds all year.
         The Beech Bluff Trail comes out just south of the Lewiston bridge at a utilities maintenance road, which is closed to public vehicles. This trail runs along the south side of the marsh and creek. The trail could be a good walk to see wetland birds and wildflowers in spring, summer and early fall. It is listed as a 1 mile one-way hike. However, it could be done as a loop walk by using the lower part of the Bald Eagle Trail to return. Park well off the road on the shoulder, taking care not to block the utilities maintenance road. Walk southwest away from Lewiston Road past the gate and enter Beech Bluff Trail. The trail meanders about a mile to Brass Eagle Loop where you should turn right on a short trail that leads across the creek to the parking lot on Fleming Road. This is where the Bald Eagle Trail terminates. Pick up the Bald Eagle Trail here and head back toward Lewiston on the north side of the creek and marsh. At Lewiston Road turn right, walk along the causeway across the bridge, and return to the utilities maintenance road to complete the approximately 2 mile round trip.
         When the birding possibilities here have been exhausted, carefully turn around and retrace the route north on Lewiston Road back to the intersection with Pleasant Ridge Road and Carlson Dairy Road. Turn right and immediately right again onto Carlson Dairy Road.

Carlson Dairy Road Bridge — Drive 0.8 mile to the bridge. Since the road margin is quite narrow on the west side here, cross the bridge, turn around at the next street, and drive back across the bridge. The best place to park is on the north shore just beyond the guard rail. For safety and to avoid a ticket, pull completely off the pavement. Then walk back to the bridge. Be very careful about traffic.
Carlson Dairy Road crosses the lake at not quite the center point. The short grassy causeway (with a bridge in the center) that crosses the lake is a good place to stand and scan the water on both sides. This overlook is not so productive for ducks, but seems to attract raptors that can sometimes be seen soaring overhead, including Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Turkey Vulture. The first recorded Bald Eagle nest in Guilford County could be seen from here until it was blown down in a storm, and eagles occasionally still fly over this spot.
It won’t take long to check out the birds here. When ready, return to the intersection with Pleasant Ridge Road, turn right, and then right again on Hamburg Mill Road.

Hamburg Mill Marsh — After returning to Hamburg Mill Road, retrace the route to the intersection with US 220/Battleground Ave. On the right is a small unofficial parking area where one may pull over and pause briefly to look out on another lake which is directly ahead. However, it is the marsh to the left on the northwest corner of the intersection that is of interest at this point. This actually is an extension of the next lake in the tour, Lake Brandt, but it is described here because local birders often check it while at Lake Higgins.
         Because of safety considerations, it is best to drive a short way to an official parking area and then walk back to scan the marsh from the road edge, rather than remain at the Hamburg Mill intersection. To get there, turn left (north) on US 220 and go 0.2 mile to the intersection with Strawberry Road. Turn right (east) at the traffic light, go 0.2 mile and park on the right in the well-marked unpaved parking lot. There will be a sign here announcing that this is part of the Lake Brandt Greenway. Walk back to the intersection, cross the road, and carefully walk to a point where the marsh can be scanned for birds. A spotting scope is useful here. The road shoulder is so narrow that the tripod should be set it up across the metal railing even if the birder is standing on the roadside.
         Depending on the water level, which fluctuates dramatically in some years, it is a good place for shorebirds such as Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs during migration. In winter it often is a good spot for Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, as well as American Black Ducks and Mallards. Sometimes Wood Ducks can be found here. A flock of Wild Turkeys has been spotted foraging along the edge of the marsh. There almost always are wading birds such as Green Herons (summer) and Great Egrets (late summer), and Great Blue Herons (all year) have nested here in the cypress trees at the northwestern edge of the marsh. The resident Bald Eagles built a new nest back in the pines across the marsh after the original nest blew down in a storm some years ago. While the nest is difficult to see, be sure to scan the trees at the marsh edge and watch the sky overhead for a Bald Eagle as well as other raptors.
          From this location, one may return to the City of Greensboro via US 220/Battleground Avenue. However, to continue birding the Greensboro lakes, return to the intersection with Strawberry Road and walk back to the parking area. See the directions to tour Lake Brandt.