[TN-Bird] Mt. Leconte - 6/29

  • From: "Shane H. Williams" <shanehwilliams@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: "Tennessee Bird List" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 15:48:33 -0400




I hiked up to Mt. Leconte (GSMNP) for the first time Wednesday via the Alum 
Cave Trail hoping for a lifer in Peregrine Falcon. I was rewarded with 3 
soaring high and making lots of noise just past the cave bluffs. I checked out 
the lodge and Cliff Top before heading down around 5 pm. I saw 2 of the 
Peregrines from the cave bluffs on the descent. Lots of people on the way up 
but I saw no one the whole way down except for a lodge employee going up with 
30 pounds of bagels in her pack. Rosebay, Cawtawba, and Carolina rhododendran 
was seen although the Cawtawba blooms were mostly fallen, as was the mountain 
laurel. It was a beautiful hike--gotta remember to charge my camera batteries 
next time.

Peregrine Falcon - 3
Common Raven - 3? heard
American Crow - 1 heard

Black-throated Blue Warbler - 16 (all elev.-my 1st of year)
Black-throated Green Warbler - 9 (all elev.)
Black-and-White Warbler - 1 f (lower end)
Blackburnian Warbler - 1 f (Cliff Top)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1 heard
Northern Parula - 1 heard (lower end) 

Blue-headed Vireo - 5 heard (lower half)
Veery - 9 (all elev.)
Gray Catbird - 3 (upper half)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1 (lower end)
Winter Wren - 8 heard (all elev.)
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 5 (upper half - 2 at Cliff Top)
Dark-eyed Junco - many (all elev. - tons at Cliff Top)
Black-capped Chickadee - 6 (upper half)
unIDed Chickadee - 3 (lower half)
Eastern Phoebe - 2 (cave bluffs)
American Robin - 1 heard (lodge)
Eastern Towhee - 5 heard (all elev.)
Cedar Waxwing - 1 (lodge)

Missed out on Canada Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Red 
Crossbill, and Hermit Thrush.

Shane Williams - Knoxville, TN

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