Life at Greenfield Lake

Greenfield Lake Park

Greenfield Lake with Azaleas in Bloom, Mar 2020

You may have heard about the Central Park Effect. Many cities in North America have parks and greenspaces that serve as important habitat for birds and wildlife, while providing us with places to relax or exercise. In Wilmington NC, our "Central Park" is Greenfield Lake. It is one of more than 50 city, and county parks in New Hanover County and is arguably one of the best birding spots in the area. As with Central Park, the former millpond sits at the center of the city and is surrounded by busy roads, a bustling seaport, and housing. This park has such good birdlife that it has been featured in the North Carolina Birding Trail series as a highlight of the Coastal Plain. 

Overview: Greenfield Lake Park is city park that is just a few miles from the city center and has a four mile paved recreation greenway, numerous bridges, and an amphitheatre. The park is one of the busiest in the city and is a good place to walk, jog, bike, or have a picnic, although it does not have as much recreational areas as Empire or Hugh McRae Parks which will be highlighted in future posts. As far as nature, the millpond is surrounded by Bald Cypress, tupelos, sweetgums, willows, and alders creating a habitat similar to a bottomland hardwood forest. The park itself consists of a mix of planted azaleas, camellias, palmettos and other shrubs, wooded areas, meadows, and reedbeds as well as landscaped gardens with heirloom plants. 

Mix of Alders, Swamp Rose, and other plants amongst Bald Cypress and Tupleos 

Nature Notes: Greenfield Lake is one of the best places to begin observing nature for the first time, and was likely how I got into birds in the first place. There are wild and feral geese and ducks that live on the park year round, although it is not a good idea to feed the birds or alligators. Beyond the waterfowl, there are herons, ibis, grebes, Barred and Great Horned Owls, numerous songbirds, as well as other wildlife such as deer and alligators. While the park is good to visit year round, the best time to watch birds is from autumn to mid-spring (October through April). This is when many songbirds and waterfowl are passing through the park on migration, and large roosts of egrets, ibis, herons, and cormorants occupy the park. 

Highlights: While Greenfield Lake has more than 200 reported bird species, the highlights include the following

American Alligator, an example of an apex predator 

Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Red Shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Barred Owl, Yellow Billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, various woodpeckers

Songbirds such as Great Crested Flycatcher, Red Eyed Vireo, Carolina Wren, Brown Thrasher, Grey Catbird, Yellow Throated Warbler, Protonotary Warbler, Northern Parula, Orchard Oriole, Summer Tanager, Common Grackle. Numerous fall migrants. 

Noted Rarities: Wood Stork, Eurasian Widgeon

Other Animals: White Tailed Deer, American Alligator, occasionally beavers, otters, muskrats, coyotes, foxes, and other visitors.