FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] Ruffed Grouse, Black-throated Green Warbler, etc. (Greene Co., TN)

["Donald Miller" <pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

March 25, 2007

Greene County--Paint Creek Recreation Area (PCRA), Paint Mountain (PM), and 
other areas in the southern part of the county

Don Holt, Jim Faunce (Greeneville TOS member), and I birded PCRA and nearby 
areas this afternoon.  Later, Don and I also visited PM before returning to 
Greeneville.

PCRA is a 5.2 mile corridor along lower Paint Creek in the extreme southern 
part of the county.  Located at low elevation in the French Broad River 
watershed in the Cherokee National Forest, it offers hemlock-rhododendron 
habitat in a mixed forest setting.  Paint Mountain, adjacent to the corridor on 
the northwest side, contrasts sharply with PCRA not only in being a steep 
upland, but also in containing a higher concentration of pines and in having 
been partially clearcut within the last fifteen years.  PM is traversed by 
Paint Mountain Road, a 5.1 mile link between PCRA and Highway 107 (Houston 
Valley Road).  Together, PCRA and PM create an excellent area in which to find 
woodland species in early spring.  

Highlights of the day included:

Ruffed Grouse (at least 3, drumming--2 PM, 1 PCRA)
Blue-headed Vireo (9 PCRA, PM)
Black-throated Green Warbler (12 PCRA, PM)
Pine Warbler (6 PCRA, PM)
Louisiana Waterthrush (PCRA)
Dark-eyed Junco (4)

Don Miller
Greeneville, Greene Co., TN

pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxx