![]() Many of the ducks and other water birds that winter on the lake start migrating north in March and April. In flight, they have a tucked-in neck, trailing legs, a 7-foot wingspan and slow, deep wing beats. Scan the edges of the lake to look for Great Blue Herons standing motionless or slowly wading in shallow water. It has beautiful blue-gray plumage and a thick, long, yellow beak. Standing about 4 feet tall, it is the largest heron in the US. One of the most beautiful and stately birds found year round at Jordan Lake is the Great Blue Heron. Both birds are brown on top with white bellies. During April and May, you may also see Spotted Sandpipers on steep or rocky banks or Solitary Sandpipers in the ditches or brushy edges around the lake. Look along the shoreline for small groups of brown-patterned Killdeer. Female and juvenile birds may have different colorings. The most common shorebirds, water birds and land birds are described below, with colorings noted for male birds in breeding plumage. The best time to see migrating birds at Jordan Lake is in April and May. The best chance of seeing the most birds is in the early morning or late afternoon when birds are most active. There are also two loop trails there-the Ebenezer Church Trail and the Old Oak Trail-each about a mile long, that lead from the lake back into the woods. Then walk around the point to the edge of the woods on the right, scanning the trees and bushes for land birds. Start at the beach on the left side of the point and scan the water for water birds. This is a good spot for seeing water birds and migrating birds. Stay straight on the park road to go to the beach. Between April and September, a park entrance fee of $6 per car ($4 for senior citizens) is charged. To get to Ebenezer Point, continue south on Farrington Road, cross US 64 (SR 1008 turns into Beaver Creek Road), continue 2.2 miles and turn right at the sign for the Ebenezer Church Recreation Area. There are two trails leading from the parking lot take the right-hand trail the leads down through the woods to the platform. The platform was a collaborative effort between the New Hope Audubon Society, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and was installed in its new location in late 2009. The Wildlife Observation Platform provides a good vantage point for viewing Bald Eagles, Osprey, Belted Kingfishers and other “fishing” birds. To get to the Wildlife Observation Platform, continue south on Farrington Point Road across the causeway (SR1008 turns into Farrington Road), turn left onto Martha’s Chapel Road, go 0.6 miles and turn left at the brown-and-white binoculars sign. There is no swimming allowed and there are no restrooms at Farrington Point, but it is open year round, offers free 24-hour access and is a good spot for spring birding. There are two boat ramps, with a small beach next to the left boat ramp. It offers an expansive view of the lake to the west of the bridge. The Farrington Point Boat Access is located at 605 Farrington Point Road (SR 1008) north of the causeway. Three of the most popular spots are Farrington Point, the Wildlife Observation Platform and Ebenezer Point. There are good birding spots all around the lake. Once you have these, you’ll need a place to go. A good online reference for birds is All About Birds. The Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Eastern and Central North America is a good starting field guide. You’ll need a bird field guide and possibly a pair of binoculars. Here are the basics on where and when to go and what to look for as a birdwatcher at Jordan Lake. Birding you say?! Yes, Jordan Lake is a terrific place to go birding! And one of the best things about birding is that you can do it while you are boating, fishing, hiking, biking or cooking out. Jordan Lake is a wonderful place to enjoy springtime activities – boating, fishing, hiking, biking, cooking out and birding. Spring is in the air! And with spring, we start spending more time outdoors enjoying springtime things.
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