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Mossy Creek Wildlife Viewing Area

Birding Season:

Spring A

Summer B

Fall A

Winter A

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Site Description and Habitats

Mossy Creek WVA is a small wildlife preserve containing approximately 23 acres that adjoins the northern edge of Jefferson City. It contains a wetlands area with slow moving Mossy Creek meandering through it as well as a small grasslands area with brushy cover. There are two covered wildlife viewing areas; one is accessed by following the paved path to the right of the parking area; and the other is located up an incline to the left of the parking lot.

From the parking area one can walk farther along Cherokee Drive past the sewage plant and reach the southwest corner of Cherokee Lake at the mouth of Mossy Creek. This is also a fairly good viewing area.

Bird species of interest

Spring and Fall Migration: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White, Magnolia, Palm, Pine, and Yellow-rumped Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bank Swallow, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Summer: Prothonotary Warbler, Chimney Swift, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole, Barn and Tree Swallow, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireo

Winter: Ring-billed and Bonaparte's Gulls, Purple Finch, Rusty Blackbird, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, and Hooded Merganser

Year-Round: Cooper's Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Screech-Owl, American Goldfinch, American Crow, Blue Jay

Rarities Seen at this Site: Little Blue Heron, White Ibis, Olive-sided Flycatcher (locally rare)

Species list via eBird Hotspot Explorer

Submit your data to eBird here

Other wildlife viewing opportunities
White-tailed deer

Detailed directions for birding Mossy Creek Wildlife Viewing Area
Mossy Creek WVA can be accessed via I-40, exit 417. From exit 417, travel north on TN Highway 92 toward Cherokee Dam. When Highway 92 dead ends into U.S. Highway 11E, turn left and continue on 11E/TN92 less than one mile and turn right at the second red light (staying on Hwy 92). Continue approximately one mile where TN 92 makes a sharp left turn and crosses a bridge over the railroad tracks. Turn at the first right onto Easley Road which dead-ends in approximately 0.1 mile, turn right at this stop sign (no street sign) and travel approximately 0.5 miles and take the first left onto Bethel Church Road which dead-ends after 0.3 miles (no street sign, but this is Cherokee Drive); there will be a sign for Mossy Creek WVA directly across from this intersection. At this stop sign, turn left and travel approximately 0.2 miles to a paved parking lot for Mossy Creek WVA which will be on your right.

As an alternate route from the I-40 approach, one can follow TN 92 to its intersection with 11E, turn right on 11E (and get in the left lane) and go one block to the next traffic light and turn left on Russell Ave; after about 15 blocks, cross the railroad and immediately turn left on Cherokee Dr; the viewing area is about 1/4 mile.

Lat-Long (GPS) coordinates
Parking lot: 36.12802 -83.50172

Information for this site page generously provided by Ginger Goolsby, Howard Chitwood, and Harold Howell.

Fees and Hours
No fees are required to access these areas. The areas are accessible during daylight hours year round.

Facilities
There are no restroom facilities.

Info for other sites
Tennessee's Watchable Wildlife web site