Cove Lake Birding
Birding at Cove Lake
Cove Lake’s 606 acres are situated in a beautiful mountain valley on the eastern edge of the Cumberland Plateau.
Scenic nature trails lead through a diversity of wetlands and woodlands offering wildlife viewing for the nature enthusiast. The lake serves as a magnet for migrating birds. In the winter there are hundreds of geese and other waterfowl. There are piers, bridges, and a tower along the paved trail to aid in seeing the birds. The Volunteer Loop Trail, accessed from the Cumberland Trail Trailhead, traverses a mature hardwood forest where many migratory birds can be seen in the spring and fall and many nesting birds can also be found.
Featured Birds
- Cedar Waxwing
- Red-winged Blackbird
- Vireos
- Wood Duck
- Woodpecker
- Ovenbird
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Bald Eagle
- Killdeer
- Hooded Merganser
- Redhead
- Gadwall
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Ring-billed Gull
- Bufflehead
- Great Blue Heron
- Green Heron
- Black-crowned Night Heron
- Belted Kingfisher
- Osprey
- Wood Duck
- Mallard
- Downy Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Yellow-rumped Warbler
- White-throated Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Eastern Meadowlark
- American Goldfinch
- American Coot
- Eastern Bluebird
- Tree Swallow
- Blue-winged Teal
- Ring-necked Duck
- Barn Swallow
- Chipping Sparrow
- Ring-billed Gull
- Song Sparrow
- Purple Martin
- Eastern Towhee
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Carolina Wren
- Sandpipers
- Plovers
- Swainson’s Thrush
- Marsh Wren
- Philadelphia Vireo
- Merlin
- Eastern Phoebe
- Eastern Kingbird
- Willow Flycatcher
- Lesser Yellowlegs
- Greater Yellowlegs
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
Explore Cove Lake and Indian Mountain birding locations here as well as a few areas outside of the park.
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Volunteer Loop Trail
Featured birds: Cedar Waxwing, Red-winged Blackbird, Vireos, Wood Duck, WoodpeckerThe Volunteer Loop Trail traverses a mature hardwood forest. A large variety of warblers can be seen here during the spring.
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Paved Trail Loop Observation Platform
Featured birds: Red-shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Hooded Merganser, RedheadThis trail traverses a variety of habitats including fallow field, edge, and open water. A three-tiered wildlife observation platform overlooks Cove Lake and is the perfect place to observe waterfowl in the winter months.
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Cove Lake & Indian Mountain Lake Trail
Featured birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, American Coot, Killdeer, Green-winged TealThis section of trail forms a loop alongside a 21-acre lake.
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Oneida City Park: Observation Pier
Featured birds: Canada Goose, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, American CootThis city park is situated on a small lake that is a hot spot for waterfowl. So far, 85 species of birds have been identified.
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Melton Lake Park Parking Area
Featured birds: Ring-billed Gull, Mallard, Canada Goose, Barn Swallow, Song SparrowThis city park is located in Oak Ridge on the tailwaters of Norris Lake. The park has a parking area on a long peninsula that offers a great view of the lake. More than 90 species of birds have been identified.
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Eagle Bend Fish Hatchery Entrance
Featured birds: Warblers, Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Herons, Swainson’s ThrushThe fish hatchery is operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for rearing cool water fish and is also a productive place for shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl. Nearly 200 species of birds have been identified.
Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM -
Discover More at Cove Lake
No events are scheduled at this time, but there's always more to explore.
