Seven Islands Birding Park

Above: Lonicera sempervirens in bloom

Coral Honeysuckle. 

Seven Islands Birding Park 

(this blog is one that falls into the perfunctory , catching up category)

Dana & Kenny Koogler 

9/16/2021

2 miles round trip hiked 

Seven Islands State Birding Park 

    I had long wanted to see Seven Islands Park.  I looked at the map and realized it wasn't that far from us.   We had no plans for this particular day so we decided to go for it.   It was hot and sunny, but we waited until later in the day to try it.   The route we took to reach it via Seymour from home had us  going around our elbow to get to our asses.  It was a bad choice, but a pretty drive through some country we'd not seen before.  It would have made far more sense to take Boyds Creek to Kodak and go in from that end.  It is closer and a better road.   We learned something today. 

      It is a popular destination and there were quite a few family groups taking advantage of the park today.   It is a good place for families, folks who want to ride bikes, and folks who want to walk their dogs where they are allowed.  

 The  display of Summer wildflowers was really something to see.  Lots of butterflies, but bless my soul, we did not see a single bird today!  

Above: quilt barn at the parking area

 Above: A large patch of phlox in bloom

Above and below: huge patch of zinnias and goldenrod 

Above: Obedient plant in bloom. it is a native, but this was likely planted here.

Above: native grasses and bird feeder with a squirrel baffle

Above: close up of goldenrod blooms

Above: thistles in bloom

Above: wild cotton bloom 

Above: First glimpse of the bridge over the French Broad River I have long wanted to see.

above and below:  two views of the bridge as I crossed.

Above and below: two vistas of the French Broad River

Above: section of trail once across the bridge

Above: passion flower in bloom along the path.

   Our opinion of Seven Islands was that we liked it. It is nice, but it was hot!  

I would try it again in a different season and plan on hiking or paddling some different areas than this.  We for sure will not go round through Seymour next visit.