Lake Jackson - Tallahassee

Thursday January 16th

Made a couple of visits to the Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park and the near by Crowder Road Landing at Lake Jackson in Tallahassee.

I came to bird at the state park and was also interested in the history of the mounds.  The Mounds  goes back over thousand years ago and was believed to be a important capital for the indigenous people of the day.

More history is presented on The Butler Miller Trail, which leads to the remnants of a Pre-civil War era grist mill. The mill was once part of Colonel Robert Butler's large plantation.

Red-shouldered Hawk at Lake Jackson

The geography around Tallahassee, called The Red Hills, can be considered the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountain range. Which also features flora commonly seen in the southern Appalachians of Georgia, such as trilliums and violets. This is also the usual southern range for some wintering birds such as Winter Wrens and White-breasted Nuthatches, that favored this bio-system. I was successful in locating both species. Plus Carolina Chickadees, Barred Owl, and Pileated Woodpecker.

Canada Geese are year round residents in Tallahassee

On Lake Jackson, hundreds of American Coots are seen, as well as a large number of Ruddy Ducks, some Buffleheads and a couple of Bonaparte's Gulls.

Possumhaw

Yaupon

Ruddy Ducks and a Coot on Lake Jackson

Underwood's Trillium

Pink Wood-Sorrel

Violet