Pennyrile Forest Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Want to get a way for New Year's Eve? Come to Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park to help us ring in the New Year. The park is offering a $140 New Year's Eve package that includes one nights lodging, dinner for two, and a New Year's Eve DJ Dance Party with appetizers and party favors. Click here for the event flyer.

Call 1-800-325-1711 to make your reservation. As of today there are plenty of rooms available for the package, but they will fill up fast, so call and make your reservation ASAP.

Looking for something fun to do in the New Year, or a gift to get for that hard to buy for person on your gift list? Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park is the place to come for lots of cool events. Our park is the only park in the system where you can come to learn how to paint an oil painting. New in 2012 Pennyrile Forest will offer several moonlight canoe trips on Pennyrile Lake. We will also be offering a 5K race in September that is part of the new Western Race Series put on by the Kentucky Department of Parks. To see a flyer with all the fun events that have been scheduled for 2012 click here.

While finishing up marking the lake trail I saw two bald eagles! The sightings occurred between 10:30-11:30AM. At first I saw one eagle on the cottage road side of the trail. I was towards the back of the lake, but not quite to the bridge. The eagle flew over then landed in a tree on the other side of the lake. While I was in the back of the lake on the bridge it flew over again. Then when I was still in the back of the lake but on the beach side of the trail I heard a strange noise. It sounded like wing beats, so I looked up in the distance I saw a bald eagle soaring over the forest. Next another eagle flew back in and over me and I was able to hear its wing beats again. The eagle then flew back towards the other eagle and eventually they both flew out of sight. The eagle that flew in fairly close to me several times seemed to be interested in what I was doing. It was acting like it was checking out what was going on in its territory. Cross your fingers, maybe we have a nesting pair in the area. This was probably the best Bald Eagle sighting I've ever had, and I've seen a lot of Bald Eagles in many different places.

Other wildlife sightings today:
Carolina wren (saw and heard)
Pileated Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
Belted Kingfisher (heard)
Daddy-long legs (didn't expect to see one out crawling around in December)
Bobcat tracks
Whitetail deer tracks
Beaver sign

Winter time is a great time to get out and enjoy nature!

Although this is my second bald eagle sighting in less than a month this does not guarantee you will see a Bald Eagle if you hike our lake trail. Several Kentucky State Parks hold annual Eagle Watch Weekends in January and February, where seeing an Eagle is guaranteed. For more information click here

Male American Goldfinch in Summer



Over the years I’ve had many questions about American Goldfinches in the winter. Many people are familiar with the bright yellow plumage of the male American Goldfinch in the summer, but don’t realize that it is the same bird in the winter visiting our bird feeders.




Male American Goldfinch in Winter













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1st & 3rd place teams from our 2008 winter rook tournament

What's the perfect way to spend a cold winters night? Playing cards with friends new and old at the Winter Rook Tournament at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park!

Winter Rook Tournament  
Begin Date: 1/6/2012    End Date: 1/7/2012    
Start Time: 7:00 P.M.  

Round-robin rook tournament begins 7p.m. Friday night & runs through Saturday evening. Players must be present for the entire tournament to play.

House rules apply. The tournament is a round robin style tournament, so every team in a division will play every other team in that division. Usually we have one or two divisions depending on how many teams show up. The players must follow house rules. One rule that sometimes confuses players is that the Rook is a wild card, so it can be played at anytime during the game.

Registration fee is $25/team & a new deck of rook cards. Register at least one week prior to the event to receive a $5 discount. Prizes will be given to the top 3 teams. Lodging discount available.

To download a copy of the flyer and registration form Flyer/click here. If you'd like a copy of the rules email me by clicking the following email addressrebeccae.clark@ky.gov


















2nd & 4th place teams from 2008 Winter Rook Tournament at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park