[Bristol-Birds] Holston Mountain birding -- Sullivan Co.

I drove thru the upper reaches of the Cherokee National Forest in Sulliavn Co. 
this morning (30 Mar) and spring is busting out all over.

About a half mile north of the Jacob's Creek Job Corp a Winter Wren was in
full song in a damp, shaded stand of hemlocks.  While the location is 1900 feet 
and bears monitoring during the breeding season,  I suspect the warmth and sun
was too much for wren.  He may be practicing his song for when he returns to the
higer forest just above.

Harper's Creek has always been a jewel !  I started picking up Blue-headed 
Vireos
there about 1890 feet and by the time I had gone 2,500 feet to Sowbed Gap and 
down into the majestic hemlocks of Mill Creek, the total became six (6) 
Blue-headeds.

Even a Dark-eyed Junco was singing his heart out from a steep hillside of 
rhododendron swept with the morning rays of the sun just above Harper's Creek.

In other notes:  on Boyd Road at Hickory Tree, not far from what I believe is a 
short stretch of river cliffs, a Northern Raven flew low across the road just 
ahead.  I made a quick pass along the edges of the river near Morrell Town but 
didn't see anything promising.  In the Virginia waters of South Holston Lake, I 
counted 20 Lesser Scaup as I headed home.

Let's go birding......

Wallace Coffey
Bristol, TN

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