FreeLists / bristol-birds / [bristol-birds] BBC "Bog Watch" set Saturday

[Wallace Coffey <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The Bristol Bird Club is sponsoring a "Bog Watch"
this Saturday at Quarry Bog in Shady Valley,
Johnson County, TN.

We'll be there rain or shine until about mid-afternoon!

It will be a sideline event of the famous
Cranberry Festival. The watch will be held at the
same time and birders who come to Shady Valley
will be able to enjoy both.  

The bog watch will feature regular walks along the
trail, creek and in fields of the preserve which
is owned and managed by the Tennessee Chapter of
The Nature Conservancy.  This is one of the best
and more unusual birding habitats in East Tennessee.

Wallace Coffey will hosts birders Saturday beginning
at 8 a.m. until well into the afternoon, rain or
shine unless we have dangerous weather conditions.

If it does not rain, Rick Knight may operate a banding
station at the bog.  If the banding station opens, activities
begin about 7:30 a.m.

BBC hopes there is a nice turnout.  Bring
your folding chairs, bag lunch, snacks and birding
gear.  We'll enjoy some good fellowship and a fun
birding opportunity.  If you have any boots to keep
your feet dry, drag them with  you.

It was tremendous fun last year.  The birding was good
and the fellowship fabulous.

The bog, located on TN Route 133, is easy to find.
After you pass Shady Valley School (beautiful stone
building) watch in a dip for a huge oak tree right
beside a lane turning left as you head north from
the crossroads and school. Go down that lane to
the end and there you'll find BBC members.

In October the bog produces Le Conte's Sparrow,
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow,
and Swamp Sparrow.  You can also search for the
Virginia Rail which breeds there.

From Bristol, Tenn follow U.S. Hwy 421 south 20 miles
to the crossroads and flashing light in Shady Valley
and turn left to the school and bog.  From Abingdon,
VA  follow U.S. Hwy 58 14 miles to Damascus, turn right
on Shady Lane in the middle of the town's main street
and go 14 miles to Shady.  From Johnson City, Tenn.
follow Hwy. 321 to Elizabethton, turn onto Hwy 91 north
about 20 miles to the Shady crossroads.

If you come on Saturday morning, the Cranberry Festival
Parade will begin at 10 a.m. and tie up traffic for
about 45 minutes for those coming from Tennessee. The
Virginia route to the bog should be easy to access.

The 11th Annual Cranberry Festival features The Nature
Conservancy Exhibit and a slew of bands at the
pavilion, 40 Craft Booths, Large Selection of Food and
Drinks, Apple Butter Making. pony ride and a Train Ride.
If you like, there's a horseshoe tournament and you
can pitch.

Chris O'Bryan will lead a nature walk to Schoolyard Spring
Preserve behind Shady Valley School at 2 p.m.  It is
sponsored by Adventure Damascus Tours and the
Steele Creek Natural History Association.

Come join us for this unique celebration of Shady Valley's
natural history and fun and birding at Quarry Bog with the 
BBC. 

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN








 

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       BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST

This is a regional birding list sponsored by the
Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications 
between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia
and Northeast Tennessee.  It serves the Russell County
Bird Club, Herndon Chapter TOS, Greeneville TOS 
Chapter, Blue Ridge Birders Club, Butternut Nature
Club, Buchanan County Bird Club, Bristol Bird Club,
Clinch Valley Bird Club and Cumberland Nature Club.
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