Description

Elevation: 891 ft.

The newly-built Tinker Creek Greenway offers a one-mile, 10-foot wide paved trail along Tinker Creek to its confluence with the Roanoke River. This site primarily offers riparian habitats, with some open edges and small grass fields. Along this creek, look for wood duck, and along the banks, green heron. Barn and northern rough-winged swallows are abundant along this waterway, with the former making use of the bridge for nesting purposes. Within the riparian woodlands that skirt the water’s edge, look for summer breeders such as red-eyed vireo, Baltimore oriole, eastern phoebe, indigo bunting, yellow-throated warbler, and year-round resident song sparrows. Take notice of the American goldfinch feeding on thistle in the more open embankments opposite the creek. Damselflies are numerous along the grassy creekbeds. Look for blue-ringed, blue-fronted and powdered dancers as well as Rambur’s and fragile forktails.

Directions

From the Roanoke Water Pollution Control Plant, return to Bennington Street and turn right for 0.7 miles to SR 24 East/Elm Avenue. Turn right, heading east for 0.8 miles. Just after crossing under the bridge, turn right into the parking lot for Tinker Creek Greenway.