Here are the field trips for the upcoming TOS spring meeting to be held in Bristol, May 4-6, 2007. If you have not registered or put in your reservation, please do so now. We look forward to seeing you. Here is the link to the meeting information http://www.tnbirds.org/Spring07-meeting.htm
Field Trip #1: Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area - VAClinch Mountain trends from SW to NE just west of Saltville, Virginia. The Wildlife Management Area contains 25,477 acres of montane forest, ranging from 2200 to 4700 feet in elevation. Mature-growth forests of oak and hickory, rhododendron thickets, beaver ponds, rushing streams, Laurel Bed Lake (at 3674 feet in elevation), meadows, shrublands and red spruce forest provide a great variety of habitat.
Among the many birds possible in this mix of habitats are: Wood thrush, Veery, Eastern wood Pewee, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Ruffed Grouse, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Wood Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Spotted and Solitary Sandpipers.
Field Trip #2: Grayson Highlands State Park , VAAt an elevation of 3853’, the 4800 acres of parkland provide great birding opportunities. Habitats range from open meadows, northern hardwood forest, Fraser fir groves, red spruce forest, and rhododendron thickets to sphagnum bogs.
The habitat variety offers great birding opportunities including Alder and Willow Flycatcher at the Massie Gap rhododendron bog. Breeding birds include Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Black-capped Chickadee, Ruffed grouse and Wild Turkey. Migrants in the area should include: Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler, Veery, Hermit Thrush and more!
Field Trip #3A: White Top Mountain - VAIn Virginia, at 5520 feet elevation, White Top Mountain is second in elevation only to neighboring Mount Rogers. It is the highest mountain in Virginia accessible by automobile. The road meanders through eastern and northern hardwood forests, open meadows, mountain balds, birch-and-spruce forests and northern red spruce forests.
Near the top, park in the parking lot and walk the last leg of the road that curves to the mountain crest. Along the way, look for Chestnut-sided Warblers, Black-capped Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper and possible Red Crossbill.
Near the parking lot, short trails lead off into the forests and open meadows. Look here, also, for Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Towhee, American Goldfinch and Common Ravens.
3B. Beartree Lake/ Campground - VA*This campground is at an elevation of 3033 feet and has three major divisions. A) Beartree Lake is a small lake with a paved loop trail around it. Belted Kingfishers are there and migrants visit the trees around the edges.** B) Open hardwood forest with hemlock groves and rhododendrons are around the Group Camping Area on left. Canada Warblers nest here. C) The last or Main Campground has bird feeders that attract hummingbirds, woodpeckers, finches, chickadees, nuthatches, sparrows and other typical woodland feeder birds. The surrounding woods abound with Veery and other thrushes, warblers, vireos and flycatchers.
3C. Elk Garden - VAThis scenic area is at 4434 feet elevation with bold rock outcroppings and expansive mountain balds surrounded by deciduous, hardwood forests. Nesting birds include Vesper Sparrow, Common Raven, Red-tailed and Broad-winged Hawks, and several species of warblers and flycatchers
Field Trip #4: Steele Creek Park - Bristol, TNNearly 5 miles long and 2 miles wide, Steele Creek Park contains a large intact forest blanketing the Beaver Creek Knobs and a 53 acre lake formed by the damming of Steele Creek. Well maintained trails make even remote areas accessible to the birder.
The forests provide nesting habitat for neotropical songbirds such Acadian Flycatcher, Worm-eating Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush and Scarlet Tanager. Other spring travelers are abundant in their northward migration. The lake is often visited by Green Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron and Osprey. Wood Ducks breed within the park.
Field Trip #5: Roan Mountain - TN and NCRoan Mountain rises to 6285 feet and sits astride the TN/NC border. Its crest is covered by grassy balds and stunted forests of buckeye, beech and fir trees, featuring Horned Lark, Vesper Sparrow and Common Raven. Two hundred acres of Catawba Rhododendron “gardens” create a magnificent purple cloak in June. Below the crest, the forested slopes provide a perfect setting for migratory and resident woodland species. Potential species include: Saw-whet Owl, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Alder Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Canada Warbler, Ovenbird, Kentucky warbler, Hooded Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Wood Thrush, Blue-headed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak, etc.
Field Trip #6: Shady Valley, TNShady Valley features great mountain birding from 2,000 to 4,000 feet in Tennessee’s highest mountain valley at its most northern latitude. The primarily, riparian cove hardwood forests contain several territories of Swainson’s Warbler. Rare wild cranberry bogs have attracted Alder Flycatchers and American Woodcock. Elsewhere, the forests feature Black-throated Blue Warbler, Canada Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo and many more summer breeders and neotropical migrants.
Bill Grigsby
Kingsport, TN
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