[TN-Bird] Cherohala Skyway report for 6-22-08

East Tennessee (Monroe County)/West North Carolina (Graham County)

On Sunday, June 22, a dozen birders visited the Cherohala Skyway in Monroe 
County, Tenn., and Graham County, NC. The birders ranged from the Knoxville 
and Chattanooga areas and one from California. There was plenty of bird song 
to be heard and we were able to see or hear pretty much all of the expected 
species (missed Common Raven and Brown Creeper, and I don't recall any 
chickadee sp).

After meeting at Hardees in Tellico Plains, we made our first stop at the 
pull-off before the road to Bald River Falls (coordinates: N 35.34671 W 
084.23869; elevation 1125 ft, 7:40 a.m.). I regularly make a short stop here, 
but this time we stayed longer, walking part way along the road beside the 
river. Immediately upon getting out of the cars, we had great looks at a 
NORTHERN PARULA foraging at a fairly low level for that species. We heard a 
couple YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERs, but never got to see one the whole day. some 
other birds found here include:
N Rough-winged Swallow
Acadian Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Louisiana Waterthrush
Worm-eating Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Indigo Bunting
Scarlet Tanager

Since the plan for the day was to get to Hooper Bald in North Carolina as 
early as possible (instead of birding our way up the Tennessee side and seeing 
how far we could get before time to return) we then headed all the way to the 
rest area beyond Indian Boundary Lake for a short stop. There are not usually 
too many birds around here, but we saw or heard the expected:
Hooded & Black-throated Green Warblers
Ovenbird
Indigo Bunting
We heard our first BLUE-HEADED VIREO ? this species was surprisingly difficult 
to see today! While we heard them at all of our stops after this, it was not 
until several hours later that we finally got to see one. Usually it is one of 
the easier birds to see.

HOOPER BALD
(N 35.30421 W 084.00111; elev. 5330)
By 9:30 we made it to the parking lot for Hooper Bald. We didn?t leave the 
parking lot for almost half an hour though, as there were some great birds to 
be seen there. We got great scope views of a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER singing a 
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER song (we did see that species as well). A brilliant 
male ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK made an appearance as well.
Other birds from the parking lot:
Cedar Waxwing
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Gray Catbird
Song Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
Dark-eyed Junco
We walked the trail up to Hooper Bald next. It?s only about a half mile, 
probably less. Unfortunately, it is a gravel path, so it is difficult to walk 
silently. Still we managed to hear ? again without seeing! ? BLUE-HEADED 
VIREOs, plus heard a few VEERIES.
At the Bald, we had more looks at the most of the species from the parking 
lot, plus: Turkey Vulture
Chimney Swift
N Bobwhite
got to see several Veeries
Brown Thrasher
Blue Jay
American Robin
LEAST FLYCATCHER (our main reason for going here). These were only found at 
the far end of the Bald (walk to the right as you enter)
Black-throated Green Warbler
Eastern Towhee

Back at the parking lot we were able to watch a BROAD-WINGED HAWK perform 
acrobatics in the sky.

After lunch at a roadside picnic area, we spent some time at the turn off for 
the road to Whigg Meadow. This is just about a mile into NC from the state 
line (coordinates N 35.33652 W 084.03170; elev 4100 ft; 12:00 noon) where you 
turn off the Skyway onto a gravel road. The next left will take you under the 
Skyway and back into Tennessee. I like to park under the bridge and wander 
around the roads here as it is always good birding. We birded only on the NC 
side.
One highlight was a nest of a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER. Some of us got good 
looks at a CANADA WARBLER and we all finally saw BLUE-HEADED VIREOs! A bonus 
was an additional LEAST FLYCATCHER.
Others here:
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Cedar Waxwing
Winter Wren
Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue and Hooded Warblers
Ovenbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Our last destination for this trip was my favorite birding site anywhere along 
the Skyway ? Grassy Gap (N 35.35706 W 084.08724; elev. 3415 ft). This is in 
Tennessee. Birding here has been excellent every time I?ve visited (every 
month from April through September). A bonus in April is the presence of the 
only Painted Trilliums I?ve ever seen in Tennessee.
Warblers and Vireos are fairly easy to find here, with highlights being CANADA 
and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERs. This year I?ve found BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER on 
my two visits.
On Sunday we also found:
American Crow
Gray Catbird
Veery
Blue Jay
Winter Wren
Blue-headed & Red-eyed Vireos (yes, we saw the Blue-headeds)
Ovenbird
Black-and-white and Hooded Warblers
Indigo Bunting
Eastern Towhee

A stop near the end of the Skyway for ice cream is always a nice way to 
celebrate a trip here.
Since the turn out was pretty good for the field trip, I will plan to do one 
or two more this year, probably in August and September. Hope to see more of 
you there then!

David Trently
Knoxville, TN
Avian Pursuits Nature Tours
http://avianpursuits.com/

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