Branham Farm Wildlife Area

Elevation: 1687 ft.

A very short, uphill gravel path leads to this mountain ridgetop site, maintained as a clear-cut of open field amidst hardwood forest. Walk the ridgetop’s mowed grassy paths to view butterflies, such as red-spotted purple, eastern tiger swallowtail, eastern comma, viceroy, clouded and orange sulphurs, spring/summer azures, and a variety of skippers that flit about, displaying a full spectrum of colors. Birds sing from the surrounding woodlands. Listen for the distinct songs of wood thrush, ovenbird, and eastern wood-pewee, as well as the distant serenades of breeding warblers. In the open areas and wooded edges, look for woodpeckers, gray catbird, brown thrasher, eastern kingbird, song sparrow, and eastern phoebe. Other inhabitants of this area that might be spied include white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse.