After being rained on at high altitudes we are now at relatively lower ones and the rain has not reached this area yet. However at the same time it is warmer here and therefore there is no one else in the parking lot even though the traffic on the highway to Greer is quite significant. The parking lot for the Squirrel Springs trail system that we chose based on cache availability is quite huge, maybe more for skiing season, and we even have a restroom which is a rarity at these trailheads.
We decide to explore the trail system a bit, it can be quite confusing with multiple loop and shortcuts between them but we have a few clear targets, caches and then trying to find some high altitude birds. The trails are actually reasonably well marked in the beginning at least at intersections, it really seems that it is maintained more for the cold season as the signs are quite high up in the trees..
As we start we notice that the clouds start to arrive and soon it is colder but it also seems that it will rain soon, luckily we are quite prepared after our previous experiences.
There are also a few birds already here mostly common ones like juncos and robins but nothing that exciting yet. Still it is encouraging to already see birds this early on the hike so we are hopeful of more birds further down as we explore.
And then it starts drizzling so we go for rain gear for a while but then to our surprise the rain ends and then it never restarts which is cool and we can explore the trails even further.
We take a few shortcuts between the loops and they are less well marked, well they are marked but you cannot see the trail on the ground which is unusual.
And then as we go off trail a bit we start finding more interesting birds. Surprisingly we find a Williamson’s Sapsucker and also a couple of Western Wood-Pewees both quite welcome and the first ones for the year.
There are also a few more common birds, quite a few of them, White-breasted Nuthatches and Audubon Warblers between them and lots of other nuthatches.
Off trail we reach a creek and the riparian area is beautiful, we did not expect for the water to be flowing. And with water there are lots of birds including a very hidden Stellar’s Jay.
There are also some flowers and with them there are butterflies, quite a few that we haven’t seen in a while and we enjoy.
There is one more special bird for us, a Western Flycatcher but even a Robin giving us great looks from a nearby log is quite welcome for us.
And then we discover a surprising bridge crossing the creek back towards the parking area, guess we were not that off trail as we thought. So soon we are back in the parking and then drive back to the AirBnB for an evening enjoying the patio and the great views over the nearby pond.
