[bcbirdclub] Townsend's Solitaire - Grandfather Mtn. NC

  • From: Daryl Owens <daryl.owens@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: Buchanan County Bird Club <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2015 21:02:40 -0400

This morning Dave Worley, Mike Sanders and myself woke up before the Jungle
Fowl and headed for Grandfather Mountain, NC to try for the very rare
Townsend's Solitaire that has traveled far from its breeding range in the
northwest part of the country for a visit. We arrived just minutes after the
park opened and still had to wait in line for a few minutes to get in. We
went straight to the top of the mountain, walked out in the middle of the
mile-high swinging bridge and found the bird perched in the top of a spruce
tree, where we, as well as many other birders, oohed and ahhed at this
beautiful thrush as it seemed to pose for the many camera lenses that were
pointed at it. We then went to the Nature Center to find Red-breasted
Nuthatches, Juncos and Pine Siskins at the bird feeders, but struck out on the
Red Crossbills that the park naturalist, Jessee Pope, had said were coming
several times a day. After leaving there we drove to Shady Valley, TN where we
tried and failed to find a Virginia Rail. Mike then treated Dave and I with a
ride on his pontoon on S. Holston Lake to find the second addition to my life
list for the day, Black Terns. We also relocated the two Laughing Gulls Mike
had found yesterday and four Caspian Terns mixed in with the fourteen Black
Terns. After this we headed to Musick's campground where we didn't find much
and finally to Paddle Creek ponds where we found two Spotted Sandpipers. Our
beautiful day of birding was then capped off by an Osprey and an adult Bald
Eagle seen together briefly above us over Paddle Creek pond. Thinking that
that would be hard to top, we pointed our wagon northward and headed home.
Thanks to my two great traveling companions for a great day of birding and
thanks especially to Mike for sharing his stunning photography that follows!

Daryl Owens,
Oakwood VA

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Townsend's Solitaire

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Black Tern

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Sent from my iPhone

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