Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
IV-B3. Oak Hollow Lake Park
3431 N. Centennial Street, High Point, NC 27265 (Marina)
336-883-3498
www.highpointnc.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Oak-Hollow-Marina-10
Administered by: City of High Point Parks & Recreation, 136 Northpoint Avenue, High Point, NC 27261
336-883-3469
www.highpointnc.gov/pr
Hours of operation: The hours of operation are seasonal. During the cool months, November through March, the marina and surrounding park open at 8:00 a.m. In the warm months, April through October, it opens at 7:00 a.m. Closing times vary from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. depending upon the month. It’s best to call the marina for the closing time if you plan to be there in the evening. The campground, which can be good birding, is open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call 336-883-3492 for campground information. All locations are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
336-883-3498
www.highpointnc.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Oak-Hollow-Marina-10
Administered by: City of High Point Parks & Recreation, 136 Northpoint Avenue, High Point, NC 27261
336-883-3469
www.highpointnc.gov/pr
Hours of operation: The hours of operation are seasonal. During the cool months, November through March, the marina and surrounding park open at 8:00 a.m. In the warm months, April through October, it opens at 7:00 a.m. Closing times vary from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. depending upon the month. It’s best to call the marina for the closing time if you plan to be there in the evening. The campground, which can be good birding, is open 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Call 336-883-3492 for campground information. All locations are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Directions
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GPS coordinates: N 36° 00.771’ W 080° 00.192’
Directions: The office and marina are at 3431 Centennial St. From I-40 take the US 68 / Eastchester Drive exit south toward High Point. The lake is on the right (west) side of Eastchester Dr. about 5 miles south of I-40. If you want to take a look at it before going to the marina, turn into the park and go up the hill to a picnic area and lake overlook. Return to Eastchester, turn right, and continue past the lake to N. Centennial St., turn right, and go to the marina. |
Description
The City of High Point offers a wide range of recreational activities around Oak Hollow Lake, and has provided nice facilities to support boating, camping, fishing, golfing, and picnicking. All of these city facilities have paved parking areas, picnic tables, and rest rooms, and there is even a small fishing tackle store at the marina. Unfortunately, as often happens with parks and recreation departments around the state, nature study is not one of the supported activities. The City’s primary effort in nature educaation and recreation is the Piedmont Environmental Center. (See the entry for this site elsewhere in this guide.)
Although there are no specific accommodations for nature watchers, birders are welcome to join the many other users of Oak Hollow Lake, and they may use the city recreation sites around the lake to scan the water and surrounding vegetation for birds. Mallards and Canada Geese are present throughout the year. In late fall and winter, a nice variety of other waterfowl sometimes may be seen. Spring may produce Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers along the shore, and migratory neotropical species might be found in the trees and shrubs.
The typical summer residents breed in areas where there is enough remnant vegetation to support them. Look for them in the shrubs around the parking areas. Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons are common in summer. Late fall brings migratory ducks and geese. Common Loons, Hooded Mergansers, and other divers are possible in the deeper parts of the lake. Oak Hollow Lake is known as the most reliable place in Guilford County to see large numbers of American Coots that congregate in a relatively tame flock at the marina throughout the winter.
For birders, there are six spots to bird around the lake, five designated access points and one additional overlook not specifically designed for the public. If a person doesn’t have much time, each site may be visited individually. However, descriptions have been arranged here in an order that will allow a person to do a birding tour of the lake from north to south. Thus, the tour begins at the northern end of the lake.
Although there are no specific accommodations for nature watchers, birders are welcome to join the many other users of Oak Hollow Lake, and they may use the city recreation sites around the lake to scan the water and surrounding vegetation for birds. Mallards and Canada Geese are present throughout the year. In late fall and winter, a nice variety of other waterfowl sometimes may be seen. Spring may produce Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers along the shore, and migratory neotropical species might be found in the trees and shrubs.
The typical summer residents breed in areas where there is enough remnant vegetation to support them. Look for them in the shrubs around the parking areas. Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons are common in summer. Late fall brings migratory ducks and geese. Common Loons, Hooded Mergansers, and other divers are possible in the deeper parts of the lake. Oak Hollow Lake is known as the most reliable place in Guilford County to see large numbers of American Coots that congregate in a relatively tame flock at the marina throughout the winter.
For birders, there are six spots to bird around the lake, five designated access points and one additional overlook not specifically designed for the public. If a person doesn’t have much time, each site may be visited individually. However, descriptions have been arranged here in an order that will allow a person to do a birding tour of the lake from north to south. Thus, the tour begins at the northern end of the lake.
Click the image to open a site map in a new window.
1. Oak Hollow Lake Marsh Overlook (GPS N 36° 02.312’ W 080° 00.081’)
This site is located on the northwest arm of the lake near the intersections of Skeet Club Rd. with Kendale and Waterview Roads about 2 miles west of Eastchester. Oak Hollow Lake was constructed at the headwaters of the Deep River, and this marsh is formed by one of the small creeks that come together to fill the lake. There is no official parking here, but birders can pull a vehicle onto the grassy shoulder. Be sure to get the tires completely off the pavement.
From here one can view the marsh on the north side. Pay attention to the shrub-like willows for small birds that glean insects from among the leaves. Watch for Wood Ducks in the water. To see more of the marsh, walk east a few feet and then north on Kendale Rd. for a hundred yards or so. The lake will be seen on the south side of the road. The view is almost due south at this point, and it’s possible to see a long way down this arm of the lake. Scanning the water for ducks in winter can be productive.
2. Oak Hollow Lake North Landing Ramp (GPS N 36° 01.061 W 080° 00.162’)
To get to this site from Eastchester, take Skeet Club 2.0 miles to Waterview Rd. Turn left (south) and go 1.5 miles to park. The street passes through a residential area with typical yard birds. In addition to the boat-launching ramp, there are picnic facilities in a large mowed lawn. A few birds may be found in the lawn and surrounding shrubbery. Looking across the lake from here, Oak Hollow Marina and Park may be seen. Scan the water for ducks and Ring-billed Gulls. Bonaparte’s Gulls and Forster’s Terns turn up occasionally.
3. Oak Hollow Lake North Overlook (GPS N 36° 00.752’ W 079° 58.961’)
This site is 1.4 miles south of Skeet Club Road/Wendover Avenue on Eastchester Drive near the intersection with Rivermeade Drive. The entrance is next to the driveway for the furniture company, Home Heritage Group (HHG). This is a small park on a hill giving an elevated view of the east end of the middle of the lake. The dam can be seen off to the left, often with gulls and other birds perched on structures around the dam. From here, it is possible in fall and winter to spot Ring-billed and occasional Bonaparte’s Gulls, and during migration, Caspian and Common Terns. Ducks usually stay in the upper arms of the H-shaped lake in the shallower water. A scope will be handy to identify most of the birds that are visible resting on the lake. Look carefully at any large dark birds seen perched or flying. Both mature and immature Bald Eagles have been spotted from here.
4. Oak Hollow Lake Festival Park (GPS N 36° 00.534’ W 079° 59.182’)
About 0.3 mile farther south is Festival Park, also overlooking the lake. At the entrance is a sign showing a map of the lake and associated public facilities. The map is handy for locating the sites in this tour including the marina and nearby campground, from which one may search for winter ducks. To reach the marina and campground, continue south on Eastchester Dr. to N. Centennial St. and turn right.
5. Oak Hollow Lake Marina (GSP N 36° 00.720’ W 080° 00.126’)
On Centennial St. it isn’t long before you cross the southern leg of the H-shaped lake. There is no good place to pull over here to view the water, and the surrounding area is a residential neighborhood. The sign for the campground will be on the left shortly after crossing the bridge. To reach the marina, pass the golf course on the right and continue north into the parking lot. In winter, the marina is the best place in the county to see a large flock of American Coots, which become almost as tame and approachable as the resident Mallards and Canada Geese. The lake and shoreline may be explored by boat. Sailboat rentals are available at the marina. Examine the gulls and terns that soar over the lake for something other than the common Ring-billed Gulls.
This site is located on the northwest arm of the lake near the intersections of Skeet Club Rd. with Kendale and Waterview Roads about 2 miles west of Eastchester. Oak Hollow Lake was constructed at the headwaters of the Deep River, and this marsh is formed by one of the small creeks that come together to fill the lake. There is no official parking here, but birders can pull a vehicle onto the grassy shoulder. Be sure to get the tires completely off the pavement.
From here one can view the marsh on the north side. Pay attention to the shrub-like willows for small birds that glean insects from among the leaves. Watch for Wood Ducks in the water. To see more of the marsh, walk east a few feet and then north on Kendale Rd. for a hundred yards or so. The lake will be seen on the south side of the road. The view is almost due south at this point, and it’s possible to see a long way down this arm of the lake. Scanning the water for ducks in winter can be productive.
2. Oak Hollow Lake North Landing Ramp (GPS N 36° 01.061 W 080° 00.162’)
To get to this site from Eastchester, take Skeet Club 2.0 miles to Waterview Rd. Turn left (south) and go 1.5 miles to park. The street passes through a residential area with typical yard birds. In addition to the boat-launching ramp, there are picnic facilities in a large mowed lawn. A few birds may be found in the lawn and surrounding shrubbery. Looking across the lake from here, Oak Hollow Marina and Park may be seen. Scan the water for ducks and Ring-billed Gulls. Bonaparte’s Gulls and Forster’s Terns turn up occasionally.
3. Oak Hollow Lake North Overlook (GPS N 36° 00.752’ W 079° 58.961’)
This site is 1.4 miles south of Skeet Club Road/Wendover Avenue on Eastchester Drive near the intersection with Rivermeade Drive. The entrance is next to the driveway for the furniture company, Home Heritage Group (HHG). This is a small park on a hill giving an elevated view of the east end of the middle of the lake. The dam can be seen off to the left, often with gulls and other birds perched on structures around the dam. From here, it is possible in fall and winter to spot Ring-billed and occasional Bonaparte’s Gulls, and during migration, Caspian and Common Terns. Ducks usually stay in the upper arms of the H-shaped lake in the shallower water. A scope will be handy to identify most of the birds that are visible resting on the lake. Look carefully at any large dark birds seen perched or flying. Both mature and immature Bald Eagles have been spotted from here.
4. Oak Hollow Lake Festival Park (GPS N 36° 00.534’ W 079° 59.182’)
About 0.3 mile farther south is Festival Park, also overlooking the lake. At the entrance is a sign showing a map of the lake and associated public facilities. The map is handy for locating the sites in this tour including the marina and nearby campground, from which one may search for winter ducks. To reach the marina and campground, continue south on Eastchester Dr. to N. Centennial St. and turn right.
5. Oak Hollow Lake Marina (GSP N 36° 00.720’ W 080° 00.126’)
On Centennial St. it isn’t long before you cross the southern leg of the H-shaped lake. There is no good place to pull over here to view the water, and the surrounding area is a residential neighborhood. The sign for the campground will be on the left shortly after crossing the bridge. To reach the marina, pass the golf course on the right and continue north into the parking lot. In winter, the marina is the best place in the county to see a large flock of American Coots, which become almost as tame and approachable as the resident Mallards and Canada Geese. The lake and shoreline may be explored by boat. Sailboat rentals are available at the marina. Examine the gulls and terns that soar over the lake for something other than the common Ring-billed Gulls.
6. Oak Hollow Lake Family Campground (GSP N 36° 00.572’ W 080° 00.270’)
The entrance to the campground is outside the marina gate on the west side of Centennial. If you are not camping here, be sure to stop at the campground office to obtain permission to go birding here, since it is open to campers only. You can get an idea of the layout and lake views by driving slowly all the way to the east end of the road. A lot of birding can be done from or standing beside your vehicle. The campground has both tent and RV sites. Since the campground doesn’t open until 8:00 a.m., this would be a good place to spend the night to be on site earlier in the morning before human activity on the lake causes the birds to move to more distant points.
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette
The entrance to the campground is outside the marina gate on the west side of Centennial. If you are not camping here, be sure to stop at the campground office to obtain permission to go birding here, since it is open to campers only. You can get an idea of the layout and lake views by driving slowly all the way to the east end of the road. A lot of birding can be done from or standing beside your vehicle. The campground has both tent and RV sites. Since the campground doesn’t open until 8:00 a.m., this would be a good place to spend the night to be on site earlier in the morning before human activity on the lake causes the birds to move to more distant points.
Finding Birds in Guilford County © 2018 Dennis Burnette