FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Bristol Bird Club White Top Mountain Birdwalk -- Sat. Jun 10.

["Wallace Coffey" <jwcoffey@xxxxxxxxxx>]

The Bristol Bird Club invites Virginia birders to join them Saturday, June
10, for a beautiful and productive bird hike among the state's highest
mountains.

 

The field trip was named "White Top Mountain, VA Birdwalk" 10 years ago when
Larry McDaniel was the leader for the first hike.  After that successful
outing with BBC birders and guest, he commented that "there is something
about taking a leisurely stroll with good friends on one of the most
beautiful sections of the Appalachian Trail, leaving one feeling euphoric."

 

You can enjoy this wonderful walk and birding Saturday.  Larry will meet
birders at the East Tennessee State University - Bristol Campus at 7 a.m.
The group will travel to Konnarock, VA where they will check for birders at
the site of the old "Weaver Store" location at 8 a.m.  This is at the
intersection of Va. Rt. 600 and 603.  It is the intersection just below the
Konnarock Community Center where the famous Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally is
held each spring.

If you are south bound on I-81 you can exit to Rt. 600 at Chilhowie and
drive up the mountain and down to Konnarock and pull right in the meeting
place parking lot.

 

The group will eventually leave cars at Elk Garden on Rt. 600 between White
Top Mountain and the state's highest mountain - Mount Rogers.  From White
Top Mountain at about 5,400 feet elevation birders will stroll and bird
continuously down hill for about 2.5 miles back to Elk Garden at 4,500 feet.
The walk descends north along the famed 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail.
Birding begins at the intersection of Smyth, Washington and Grayson counties
and is mostly in Grayson County.

 

You will never talk to any birder who went on this trip that doesn't give it
a five-star rave review!   Ask Dave Worley, Janice Martin, Diana Worley, Rob
Biller, Ruth Baker, Fred Martin, Joanne Detta and Marty Huber who were among
birders on the first hike and since.

 

Lush ferns and beautiful wildflowers grace the way.  Juncos sing and nest
all along the trail.  The group delighted one year at finding an active
nest.  

 

Winter Wrens, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Blue-headed
Vireo, Veery, Blackburnian Warbler, Canada Warbler, Magnolia Warbler and Red
Crossbills have been found on this trip.  One year a Northern Saw-whet Owl
responded to daytime whistles.

 

Many other wonderful mountain species, including warblers, are found along
the trail.  You need to be there and take it all in.

 

If Larry has any further details or arrangements he will probably post them
on Bristol Birds Net before Friday evening.  If you can't wait and need to
contact him he may be reached at his e-mail address of
larry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

Gather up your birding equipment, walking shoes and birding friends and
neighbors for one of the region's best field trips of the year.  

 

Let's go birding..

 

Wallace Coffey

Bristol, TN