Gwinnett County
1) Little Mulberry Park             [N/A]              
PM, May-June for breeding birds

Little Mulberry Park is an 890 acre passive recreation park located in northeastern Gwinnett County a few miles off I-85, operated by Gwinnett County.  It ranges in elevation from about 900 feet around Miller Lake on the north end to 1210 feet at the West Meadow on the south end, one of the highest points in Gwinnett County.  Much of the park is accessed by wide paved paths, making it suitable for birders of all physical abilities.   The rest of the park is accessed by well-maintained dirt trails.  While this park is heavily used by runners, walkers, bikers and dog walkers, it offers great birding potential.  After one year of regular observation, the author has developed a list of nearly 140 species for the park.  The avifauna found here is typical of the park’s habitat types and Piedmont location.

There are two parking lots available, one off Hog Mtn Rd and one off Fence Rd.  Both are suitable options depending on one’s birding strategy.  From I-85, take Exit 120 (Hamilton Mill Rd). Coming from Atlanta, turn right onto Hamilton Mill, and going towards Atlanta turn left so you cross back over the interstate. Go through the traffic light at Braselton Hwy/GA Hwy 124 and from that light continue approx 1.8 miles to Hog Mountain Rd. Turn left to head east and go approx 1.3 miles to the parking lot on the right side of the road. This is the north parking lot for the park. To reach the south parking lot, return to Hog Mtn Rd and continue east for 0.6 miles to Mineral Springs Rd. Turn right to head south and go 1.7 miles to Clack Rd. Turn right on Clack Rd and go 0.4 miles to Fence Rd. Turn right/west on Fence Rd and go 0.75 miles to the park entrance on the right side of the road.

There are several habitats found in the park.  The primary habitat is second growth forest of mostly deciduous trees with scattered loblolly pine, though there are patches of white pine as well.  Other habitats include the open water of Miller Lake and a smaller pond on the park’s south side, weedy and marshy habitats around the edges of the water and at mouths of creeks, open meadows and savannah, forest edges, and some early successional forest growth.  There are trails which cover all these habitat types, however the trails you focus on will change with the seasons.  Each is described below.  Viewing this MAP may help in understanding the trails.

Miller Trail Loop- this 2.2 mile wide paved path loops around Miller Lake, and is most easily accessed from the Hog Mtn Rd parking area.  A trip around the lake is good at any time of year, but is most interesting in the winter months.  Coming down the trail from the restrooms to the loop, Pine Warblers and Brown-headed Nuthatch can often be found in the pines.  There are several fishing docks around the lake which provide great views of the water.  Many small creeks drain into the lake, at each one there’s a small swampy marsh.  During summer, each one holds one or two singing Common Yellowthroats.  Song, Swamp, and White-throated Sparrows are legion in the winter, along both kinglets and a few Savannah Sparrows in appropriate habitat.  The willow thicket on the lake’s NE side also hosted Purple Finches during winter 2007.  The peninsula covered with white pines (the area blocked by a fence beyond the picnic area) hosts a Great Blue Heron rookery of about a dozen nests in spring and early summer.

Carriage Trail - this 0.66 mile trail (also wide and paved) begins on the backside of the Miller Loop Trail and connects to the south side of the park.  The willow trees and scrubby thicket found at this intersection are usually worth spending a few minutes at.  From MLT, it is a solid uphill slog that will give you some exercise!  The trail passes through interior forest, generally unexciting, but in the breeding season, one can hear Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird singing, which are surprisingly common in the park during this season.  This trail’s intersection with the East Meadow Trail can provide interesting birding.

East Meadow Trail - if one continues straight from the Carriage Trail, this will connect to the West Meadow Trail.  Turning left will take you around the bulk of the East Meadow Trail, which passes through some meadow and savannah habitat.  However, there are more interesting sections of the park to bird, so check this area out only if you have lots of time or are just looking for a new section of the park to see.  Where the East Meadow and West Meadow Trails meet can be very good in the spring for neotropical migrants.  The birds will be in the very tops of very tall trees though!

West Meadow Trail - this trail also passes through meadow and savannah habitat.  This is the best spot in the park to see raptors soaring, and Eastern Meadowlarks can be found here in winter, Palm Warblers can be found in thick numbers in the tree rows in spring.  From the northwest corner of the meadow, and the highest point in the park, one has a fantastic view to the north.  The mountains of north Georgia are visible on clear days.  By walking downhill from this point, many birds can be found in the brushy scrub at various seasons.  There’s a large patch of Virginia Creeper which is very popular when the berries ripen in the fall.

Pond Trail - this trail goes around the small pond just off Fence Rd.  This pond holds several Hooded Mergansers in the winter, and a Belted Kingfisher can usually be found.  The weedy areas around and below the pond are worth exploring.  There are a couple of black gums adjacent to the playground which can be very attractive to thrushes and other birds when they are in fruit in the fall. 

Beech Tree Trail - The upper section of this trail is one of the best spots in the park in the spring.  From the trail head down to where the stone steps begin, this section should be worked over carefully, especially in the early spring when leaves are not yet out.  A number of warbler species were found here in spring 2008.

Ravine Loop Trail - This is a very pretty trail which passes through interior forest.  In the breeding season, one can hear Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, and occasionally Kentucky Warbler.  Along the creek, Louisiana Waterthrush and Acadian Flycatcher can be found.  In fall 2007, a great variety of thrush species were found along the creek. 

East Mulberry Trail - the best way to access this trail is to return to the great overlook spot on the West Meadow Trail.  From there, proceed downhill.  With a little bushwacking through the tall grass (along an unmaintained maintenance track), you drop down onto the East Mulberry Trail.  From there, turn left to return downhill to the Miller Lake Loop.  The upper sections of this trail hosted groups of Purple Finches in winter 2007.  However, the most interesting parts of this trail are found between trail markers 28 to 30.  Here the canopy is more open, and migrants can often be found here here.  In spring 2008 this included Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Blackburnian & Black-throated Blue Warblers.  For purposes of seeing the birds, it easier to hike down this trail towards Miller Lake rather than uphill.

Strategies for birding the park - The best birding occurs in the first couple hours after sunrise.  This park is large and getting from one area to another takes valuable time, so getting the best birding experience requires being in the right place at the right time.  Another consideration is how much time you have available.  A thorough covering of the park can take 4-5 hours.

Visit the park website.