The Five Mile Creek Greenway, as it passes through the small historic community of Brookside, provides access to the banks Five Mile Creek for about 3 miles. The Greenway trail begins at the end of the Bensko Park parking lot and winds along via a wide, level, well-maintained path above the creek through alternating groves of mature open-understory hardwoods and more-dense hardwood and second-growth thickets along the banks of the creek.

This is not at all a challenging walk; it is perhaps at its very best in spring and fall when migrants may be abundant, but winter and breeding birds are also impressive here. Expect a good general mix of songbirds and woodpeckers. Red-shouldered, Cooper's and Red-tailed Hawks are permanent residents; Broad-winged Hawks are seen in the warm months, and Sharp-shinned Hawks are sometimes present from October through March. Winter birds include a good variety of sparrows, kinglets, and possible Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes, and Brown Creepers. Barred and Great-horned Owls are both likely here.

Special tip: Mississippi kites have been seen very nearby in summer. In spring and summer the creek attracts herons such as Great Blue Herons and Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. Louisiana Waterthrushes, and Wood Ducks also nest in the vicinity. Belted Kingfishers are present year around.

The Greenway is adjacent to Brookside's 30-acre Bensko Park, which features 3 ball fields, a pavilion, and a paved walking track circling the open, grassy fields, which are dotted with groves of shade trees. When not in heavy use, the park offers good opportunities to see Eastern Bluebirds, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Eastern Phoebes, and Chipping Sparrows, and some raptors. Loggerhead Shrikes are a possibility here, and American Kestrels are sometimes seen on the light poles in the cooler months.

Continuing east along Cardiff Rd., the Greenway Park makes a left on Park Avenue, and a final right on Market Street, and terminates at Main Street's bridge over the creek. The bridge serves as a nesting site for Eastern Phoebes and Barn and Cliff Swallows.

REMINDER: This listing is a free service of LandCAN.
Five Mile Creek Greenway Brookside is not employed by or affiliated with the Land Conservation Assistance Network, and the Network does not certify or guarantee their services. The reader must perform their own due diligence and use their own judgment in the selection of any professional.

Listed in:

• Ecotourism