Description

Elevation: 1202 ft.

Franklin County Recreation Park offers another great access point to the varied habitats of the Piedmont. The area leads the observer into a mosaic of fields, open water and deciduous and coniferous forest. The park’s nature trail primarily covers woodland habitats and would be a good place to search for migrants during spring and fall. Of course the trail bustles year round with resident birds including downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, house and Carolina wrens, gray catbird and song sparrow. Heading east through the park, there are large open fields that host numerous eastern bluebirds year-round. This road ends overlooking a lake, giving a great view into the surrounding treetops. Search this area for migrant waterfowl on the lake, while the treetops host northern flicker or perhaps roosting swallows. The moist areas next to the lake should be searched for damsel and dragonflies, while a variety of butterflies can be found throughout the park.

Directions

Physical Address: 2150 Sontag Rd, Rocky Mount, VA 24151

Parking is available at given address and further south past two baseball fields on SR 619/Sontag Rd.

From the previous site on the Southwest Piedmont Loop of the VBWT:

From Waid Park, travel up Waid Park Rd/SR 800 and turn right (northeast) onto SR 640. Turn right onto US 220 BUS S/S Main St in Rocky Mount and continue for 2.4 miles. Turn left onto SR 619/Sontag Rd and find the park on the right in 2.2 miles.