Bird species of interest at Clear Creek Metro Park:

White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Black-and-white Warblers, Hooded Warblers, and Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireos and Yellow-throated Vireos, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Acadian Flycatchers, Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-tailed Hawk

About the Area:

The Creekside Meadows Trail (eastern portion)

Leaving the parking lot and going east and west along Clear Creek is the Creekside Meadows Trail.  The parking area itself can be very productive for breeding season species such as Chipping Sparrow, Northern Parula, and Yellow Warbler, as well as Great Crested Flycatchers.  This is also an excellent area to view soaring raptors, such as the Red-shouldered, Broad-winged and Red-tailed hawks.  During the winter, this area may produce a rare sighting of Evening Grosbeaks as they fly from ridge top to ridge top. 

East from the parking lot along the trail, the bottomland successional field typically produces Eastern Bluebirds, Field Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, Gray Catbirds, Blue-winged Warblers, and oftentimes a Yellow-breasted Chat. 

Check the forested creek bank and stream area to the right for Yellow-throated Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Baltimore Orioles.  During the winter months White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow and an occasional wintering Field Sparrow will be found along with Northern Juncos in this area. 

Toward the east end of the meadow, one may access the Cemetery Ridge Trail.

Cemetery Ridge Trail

The Cemetery Ridge Trail is a 2.5-mile route most easily accessed from the Creekside Meadows Picnic Area and Creekside Meadows trail.    The trail passes up a steep slope in mixed forest at first, but the majority of this trail follows a ridge top dominated by oaks and hickories.  This is an ideal area for Worm-eating Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Hooded Warblers, and Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireos and Yellow-throated Vireos, and Eastern Wood-Pewee.  Approximately two-thirds of the way up the slope is a white pine planting often harboring a Yellow-throated Warbler.  The Cemetery Ridge Trail goes through dry upland woods that will produce Hooded Warblers and Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers and at least four species of woodpeckers: Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Pileated Woodpeckers.  This area also contains a large flock of Wild Turkeys that may be seen during favorable times of the year.  Winter months can be fairly quiet along this ridge top, as birds move to the valley to escape the winter winds; however, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches and at least four species of woodpeckers: Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Pileated Woodpeckers.

Toward the western end of the Cemetery Ridge Trail, hikers will approach several open fields at the junction of the Chestnut Trail.  Just before the Chestnut Trail, one should check the mixed pine stand on the right (north side of the trail) for Pine Warblers during the breeding season and Red-breasted Nuthatches in winter.  The upland fields along the Cemetery Ridge Trail between the Chestnut Trail and the Fern Trail will produce Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows, and Indigo Buntings.  In the winter months, the edges of these fields and fencerows are excellent places for Rufous-sided Towhees, White-throated Sparrows, White-Crowned Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and even Fox Sparrows.

Chestnut Trail

The Chestnut Trail is a wooded, mostly ridge-top trail, featuring a group of upland forest birds reminiscent of southeastern Ohio.  Tanagers, Vireos, woodpeckers, Flycatchers, and warblers such as Ovenbirds and Hooded Warblers are abundant.  Scattered patches of the native pitch pine and planted white pines should be checked for pine Warblers and even possible nesting Red-Breasted Nuthatches.  The latter species has occurred sparingly during the nesting season.  During the winter months, woodpeckers and other permanent residents such as Carolina Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches may be found in these dry oak woods.  Also look for Brown Creepers, and Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  Areas near the heads of the hemlock ravines may be productive for a variety of wintering species seeking food and shelter during the colder months.  In the summer, these areas may offer opportunities to see such specialties as Hermit Thrushes, Magnolia Warblers and Black-throated Green Warblers, and Blue-headed Vireos.

The Fern Trail

This trail may be accessed from the Fern Trail Parking Area along Clear Creek Road or from the Cemetery Ridge Trail accessible from the Creekside Meadows Picnic Area.  The Fern Trail traverses three very distinct woodland types:  the upper dry ridge area comprised largely of oaks, the slopes that contain mixed group of trees that prefer moist soils, and the lower slopes and ravines dominated by the evergreen hemlock.  A good variety of birds will be found along this moderately steep trail.  On the upper ridges continue to search for ridge-top species seen along the Cemetery Ridge Trail.  As one continues down the slopes you will begin to find Black-and-white Warblers and Kentucky Warblers, and, though rare, possibly Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  Winter residents along this trail will include Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, Brown Creepers, and a variety of woodpeckers.  Check the hemlocks for Golden-crowned Kinglets and Ruby-crowned Kinglets.

Hemlock Trail 

This trail can be accessed from two different points.  From the north, the upper part of the trail can be accessed from the top of the Fern Trail Loop.  The lower end of the trail can be accessed from Clear Creek Road and the Creekside Meadows Trail one-half mile from both the Fern Trail Parking Lot and Creekside Meadows Parking Lot.  This trail traverses very steep rugged terrain from either direction.  The upper part of the trail will produce typically oak woodland species found on the Cemetery Ridge and Chestnut Trails.  The lower end of the trail is a little more interesting from a birding standpoint.  This very flat area can be accessed from Clear Creek Road and leads one through the lower end of a steep-sided hemlock ravine.  Everyone birding Clear Creek should walk this portion of the trail to the third bridge, which lies at the base of the steeper part of the trail.  This ravine regularly produces 12 species of nesting warblers, including Worm-eating Warblers, Kentucky Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, Cerulean Warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, and the rare Canada Warblers and Magnolia Warblers.  As many as six singing male Canada Warblers have been present along this trail; however, typical numbers are 1-3.  Three species of thrushes—Wood Thrush, Hermit Thrush, and Veery--can be found annually nesting in this area, as well as Blue-headed Vireo.

Creekside Meadows Trail (western portion)

This very level one-mile trail connects the Creekside Meadows Parking Lot to the Fern Trail Parking lot and parallels both Clear Creek and Clear Creek Road.  This is an excellent trail for a diversity of species found along the creek and the adjacent extensive wooded tracts.  Numerous warblers, including Yellow-throated Warblers, Northern Parula Warblers, Cerulean Warblers, Yellow Warblers, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, and Louisiana Waterthrush are visible from this trail.  Look for Veeries gathering food along the road during the breeding season.  Other species inhabiting the creek and adjacent areas are Belted Kingfishers, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Acadian Flycatchers, Baltimore Orioles, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.  Winters are fairly quiet along the creek; however, the occasional Great Blue Heron and Wood Duck may persist until the coldest part of the winter.  Other possible notables at this time are Winter Wrens and Carolina Wrens, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Hermit Thrushes.

Barnebey-Hambleton Day Use Area

Four trails are accessible from this area located in the western part of the park.  This area has two small picnic areas, flush restrooms, and a group shelter house.  From the group shelter house one may overlook part of the Clear Creek Valley and watch for soaring Broad-winged Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawks, as well as Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures.  The pine stand uphill behind the shelter house typically contains a nesting pair of Pine Warblers during the breeding season.

Prairie Warbler Trail

This short trail winds down through a managed stand of native Virginia pines that annually produces 1-3 pairs of nesting Prairie Warblers, here at the northern limit of their normal nesting range.  Also in this area one should look for Blue-winged Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, Brown Thrashers, and Eastern Bluebirds.

Tulip Tree Trail

Here a loop trail less than a mile long traverses mixed moist woodlands that support a diversity of woodland species.  Forest birds such as Scarlet Tanagers, Great-crested Flycatchers, Yellow-throated Vireos, Cerulean Warblers, and several woodpeckers can be found along this trail.  In the under story birds such as Hooded Warblers, Ovenbirds, and even an occasional Gray Catbird and Rufous-sided Towhee may be present where a downed tree has created a small opening.

Lake Trail

This one-mile (one way), steep trail leads down to the north end of Lake Ramona.  Birds typical of mixed moist slopes, such as Ovenbirds, Hooded Warblers, and Pileated Woodpeckers, can be found on your way down to the lake.  Depending on the time of year the lake will support Canada Geese, Mallards, Wood Ducks, Belted Kingfisher, and an occasional Osprey.

Directions:

From I - 270, take U.S. 33 east toward Lancaster. Go about 31 miles to Clear Creek Road (Country Route 116 - Sunoco gas station on the corner).  Turn right and go about 1.5 miles to the intersection of Clear Creek Road and Starner Road.