Birding and a Marathon around Greenfield Lake
© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 107896834 - Juvenile American Alligator; Greenfield Lake, Wilmington, North Carolina. February 25, 2022.
Spring is coming! It’s time for the daffodils to bloom, the birds to begin migrating, and the nature photographers to get the equipment ready. But it’s also time for spring marathons! Okay, maybe running extra long distances doesn’t fit in with your lifestyle. But somehow running marathons became another one of my excessive, out-of-balance hobbies.
My daughter and I drove up to North Carolina for the annual Wilmington Marathon. The race begins at sunrise near the waves and dunes of Wrightsville Beach. After crossing several bridges, the course heads for downtown Wilmington and, after twenty-six miles, it ends at the convention center. Along the route the race loops Greenfield Lake, a great park for wildlife and birding photography.
Knowing that I wouldn’t be carrying my heavy DSLR and telephoto lens during a four-hour run, I went with my daughter for a walk at Greenfield Lake the day before the race. I’ve previously photographed several alligators in the lake and hoped to get some more. Although sunny, it was still a tad cool and breezy, so I only spotted two juvenile alligators, but a myriad of birds. There are always egrets, herons, cormorants, ibis and other water birds at the lake. And the waters are full of turtles! A paved path through well-maintained gardens circles the lake. Playgrounds and gazebos make it a popular place for family outings… and a marathon!
The next day, by the time we hit Greenfield Lake during the marathon, we had already run over 17 miles. My daughter was totally spent and I don’t think the beauty of Greenfield Lake registered much in her mind like it had the day before. As I ran, I tried to concentrate on the trees, Spanish moss, flitting birds and budding plants. The solace of the lake and its picturesque view helped me to divert some of the pain developing in my legs. I’m thankful that some of the marathon course wound its way through this park. But I was even happier when the 26.2 miles finally ended and that medal was in hand!
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina. February 25, 2022.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
- http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/greenfield-lake-wilmington-north-carolina
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
- http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/greenfield-lake-wilmington-north-carolina
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Egret (Ardea alba)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
- http://williamwisephoto.com/photographyblog/greenfield-lake-wilmington-north-carolina
Photos / Sounds
What
Deirochelyine Turtles (Subfamily Deirochelyinae)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Counted 52 in this one photo! Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
©williamwisephoto.com Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
White Ibis (Eudocimus albus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Pond Slider (Trachemys scripta)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
This is the female. See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108052584 for the male and a series of mating photos.
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
This is for the male on the right in the first photo... and on top in the next photos :) See https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/108052582 for the female's observation
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Barred Owl (Strix varia)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
Photos / Sounds
What
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)Observer
williamwisephotoDescription
Greenfield Lake, Hanover County, North Carolina.
- Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Southwest wind 11 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.
- Sunrise 6:45 am; Sunset 6:04 pm
- Daylight Hours: 11 hours, 19 minutes (+2m 4s)
- Moon: 31.1% Waning Crescent
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