Buchanan Birders, Michelle and I joined three other hikers Sunday for a trip into the Beartown Wilderness Area in Tazewell County. Beartown Tazewell is the fourth highest mountain in Virginia and rises to an elevation of 4710 feet. 65 species of birds were located during the day including many high-altitude specialties. Most interesting bird of the day was a Ruffed Grouse. I looked under a ledge that several hikers had just walked around and noticed a perfectly camouflaged hen sitting on her nest. She flushed a couple of seconds after I stopped walking and revealed a nest with at least a dozen eggs. For those interested, pictures of the nest as well as pictures from the hike can be found at: http://www.pbase.com/aquilaet/beartown2 We also found a half-dozen or so Bobolinks at the intersection of Route 608 and Rt. 91 in Tazewell County (this is the mouth of Ward Cove). Interesting high altitude species found on Beartown Tazewell included: Canada Warbler (at least a half dozen singing) Black-throated Blue Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Veery Red-breasted Nuthatch Golden-crowned Kinglet Dark-eyed Junco Common Raven We had a great time and I'm already planning a return visit via the AT and Chestnut Ridge. Ed --------------------------------- Don't pick lemons. See all the new 2007 cars at Yahoo! Autos.