Finding Birds in Guilford County: Hagan-Stone Park

Although administered by the City of Greensboro as part of its parks and recreation program, this 409 acre park is well south of the city in rural southeastern Guilford County. To get there, take the US 421 exit (exit 126) 6.8 miles south to Hagan-Stone Park Road. Turn right (west) and go 2.3 miles to the park entrance at 5920 Hagan-Stone Park Road in Pleasant Garden. For information, call 336-674-0472.
          The park is developed for a variety of sports and outdoor recreation activities, but a large portion of it has been preserved for wildlife. There are 8.7 miles of designated hiking/nature trails cover most of the park. (These trails also are open to mountain bike enthusiasts from March to October.) In addition to the trails, there are four small lakes and a campground in the park that should be checked for birds.
          Birding around the two lakes nearest the entrance is often interesting. Red-shouldered Hawks have nested several times near the lakes, which also attract interesting waterfowl. The largest of the Park’s lakes, on the right (east) side of the entry road, has hosted Hooded Mergansers and even Canvasbacks in winter. The lake on the left (west) side of the road does not have an official trail around it, but anglers have created a rough path that may be walked to find Downy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Tufted Titmouse, and Carolina Chickadee. In summer watch for Eastern Phoebes competing with Northern Rough-winged, Barn and Tree Swallows for insects over the lake.
          One of the best areas in the park for birding is around the fishing pond designated as Lake #1 behind shelter #5 at the far western edge of the park. In early spring, Common Snipe can be heard at dusk in their mating flight. Both Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks are in the brushy field, and Pine Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, and Brown-headed Nuthatches are in the pines next to the parking lot. Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers make their home in the tangle of shrubs around the shelter and by the lake. Lake #4 near the Schoolhouse Trail near the center of the park isn’t quite as good for birds, but it’s a great place to practice one’s skills identifying dragonflies.