Bledsoe Creek Birding
Notification Alert
Construction in the Park
Due to upgrades within the park, there will be ongoing construction noise from 8am-4pm, Monday-Friday. The estimated completion date for this project is the summer of 2026.
Birding at Bledsoe Creek
Bledsoe Creek is a small park located in the state’s Central Basin on the shore of impounded Bledsoe Creek, a tributary of Old Hickory Lake.
Over four and a half miles of trails take visitors from the lakeshore to a high ridgetop. From these locations, a variety of birds ranging from waders and wintering waterfowl to transient and nesting songbirds may be observed.
165 species have been recorded at the park.
Featured Birds
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Belted Kingfisher
- Green Heron
- Barred Owl
- Pileated Woodpecker
- Carolina Wren
- Prothonotary Warbler
- Louisiana Waterthrush
- Indigo Bunting
- Canada Goose
- Bald Eagle
- Osprey
- Great Egret
- Great Blue Heron
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Lesser Scaup
- Bufflehead
- Waterfowl
- Black Vulture
- Turkey Vulture
- Purple Martin
- Eastern Kingbird
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Downy Woodpecker
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Northern Parula
- Yellow-throated Warbler
- American Goldfinch
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Red-bellied Woodpecker
- Wild Turkey
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Scarlet Tanager
- Summer Tanager
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
- Kentucky Warbler
- Black-and-White Warbler
- Tennessee Warbler
- Migrating Warblers
- American Goldfinch
- American Coot
- Killdeer
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Horned Lark
- Swamp Sparrow
- White-throated Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
Responsible Birding
- Do not endanger the welfare of birds.
- Tread lightly and respect bird habitat.
- Silence is golden.
- Do not use electronic sound devices to attract birds during nesting season, May-July.
- Take extra care when in a nesting area.
- Always respect the law and the rights of others, violators subject to prosecution.
- Do not trespass on private property.
- Avoid pointing your binoculars at other people or their homes.
- Limit group sizes in areas that are not conducive to large crowds.
Birding Locations
A hiking map is available at the park.
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Mayo Wix Trail
Featured birds: Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Green Heron, Barred Owl, Pileated WoodpeckerThis level, barrier-free trail goes through young woodlands and is adjacent to a shaded stream. -
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Shoreline Trail
Featured birds: Canada Goose, Bald Eagle, Osprey, Great Egret, Great Blue HeronThis trail hugs the shore consisting of open woods, with several accessible open water viewing spots, ending at the park boat ramp.
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High Ridge Trail
Featured birds: Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Wild Turkey, Great Crested FlycatcherA shady trail that offers short but steep climbs, scenic views and resting spots as it winds through the woods. -
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Old Hickory Lake Lock 5 Refuge: Access on east side of Hwy 231
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Mallard, American CootThe site consists of tree-lined river and creek banks with cultivated fields that are subject to flooding in the winter. The main waterfowl area consists of five ponds totaling around 41 acres on the north side of the Cumberland River at the Hunter's Point bridge.
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Old Hickory WMA Canoe Branch Road Access
Featured birds: Waterfowl, Indigo Bunting, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, Yellow-breasted ChatThe area contains a hardwood forest of oak, hickory, and maple, and a riparian forest along the shoreline of parts of the lake. These are mixed with cropland that is flooded for waterfowl in winter. Public access is via walkable/gravel roads.
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Discover More at Bledsoe Creek
No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.
