FreeLists / bristol-birds / [Bristol-Birds] IMBD @ Hampton Creek Cove, TN

[<merlin42@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Tennessee and Bristol area birders,

Today, Nora Schubert and myself (Rob Biller) spent International Migratory Bird 
Day at Hampton Creek Cove.  The general Lat/Long of the site in Carter County 
is lat 36 degrees 05'   long 82 degrees 01'.  

Hampton Creek Cove is a 693-acre natural area located in Carter County outside 
of the town of Roan Mountain near Roan Mountain State Park. The Cove is in the 
Southern Appalachian Mountains between 3,000 to 4,800 feet elevation. The upper 
boundary is contiguous to the Cherokee National Forest just below where the 
Appalachian Trail (AT) crosses the Little Hump and Hump Mountains. The Cherokee 
is where the upper reaches of the Left Prong of Hampton Creek originate. The 
creek is a prominent feature bisecting the length of the natural area, draining 
young and mature forests, seeps, and farmland in the cove. The Left Prong is 
considered one of the most productive native trout streams in East Tennessee 
and is presently undergoing brook trout restoration directed by Trout Unlimited 
and the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency. Seeps, which were once the source 
of drinking water here, are fairly common and often found on slopes. One such 
seep forms a small scrub and shrub bog near a low elevation pasture that 
supports a diversity of wetland species. Hampton Creek Cove is managed by the 
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) land trust. (from the TDEC: 
Division of Natural Areas website : 
http://www.state.tn.us/environment/na/natareas/hampton/)

Great looks at many Golden-winged Warblers (not one hybrid!) and dueling 
American Redstarts (actually there were 3 fighting out territory rights) 
highlighted the day.  Also the appearance of a Baltimore Oriole was a big 
surprise as there are no nesting records of this species in the cove.  
Consulting with Allan Trently (via telephone) we think elevational concerns 
make this a interesting sighting.  I believe it was just a passerine through 
the cove.  The day was overcast with rain around 2pm.  48 Species of birds 
seen.  

The complete list follows:

Yellow-billed  Cuckoo 1
Chimney Swift 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Pileated Woodpecker 3
Acadian Flycatcher 3
Alder Flycatcher 1
Willow  Flycatcher 2
Least F lycatcher 4
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue-headed  Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 4
N. Rough-winged Swallow 2
Barn Swallow 5
Carolina Chickadee 1
Tufted Titmouse 6
House Wren 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Eastern Blubird 1
Veery 3
Wood Thrush 2
American Robin 6
Gray Catbird 8
Brown Thrasher 4
European Starling 1
Golden-winged Warbler 8
Yellow Warbler 9
Chestnut-sided Warbler 18
American Redstart 20
Ovenbird 1
Common Yellowthroat 6
Hooded Warbler 1
Scarlet Tanager 2
Eastern Towhee 11
Field Sparrow 9
Song  Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 3
Northern Cardinal 2
Indigo Bunting 11
Red-winged Blackbird 3
Common Grackle 2
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Baltimore Oriole - First known sighting of this species here
American Goldfinch 10
--
Rob Biller
Elizabethton, TN
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