[TN-Bird] Spring arrivals/ Full Day of Campbell/Scott County birding


   March 27,  2003  CAMPBELL AND SCOTT COUNTY, TN BIRDING 

       The weather was irresistible today with the crisp clear skies
early am, so I decided to try to do an early "Spring Count" and a long
day of driving the extreme back roads of Campbell and Scott counties to
see what has come in the past couple days, and to count birds in the
Southern part of Scott County for data I am collecting. Though I cannot
walk a lot because of this back problem the last 3 months, to my delight
today, I found I can now ride  quite a longer distance than I have been
able to the last 3 months. 
Nothing like driving slow and hanging your head out of the window to hear
those new arrivals starting to claim territories!
   If anyone wants a full day of birding with a long loop to take, this
is an interesting trip, but full of rough rocky places and narrow winding
roads. 
General route taken with a few side trips not mentioned : (SKIP OVER if
not
interested, but posted for several that have asked about these
directions)
TN Gazateer pg 59
Begin at Caryville- to Hwy 63- towards Huntsville-Left towards  Norma
-along New River into Smoky Junction- Go right on Smoky Creek Rd. into
Hembree and  the nether regions of coal country on to Smoky Creek in the
extreme S part of Scott County near the  Morgan/Anderson County line .
(Extreme caution here from the loaded coal trucks frequenting the roads)
Backtrack out to Smoky Junction-take Shea Rd. R. towards Campbell County
This leads through   Nicks Creek-Clinchmore- Stoney Fork and Pewee.
Eventually you end up crossing  the Mt.near Caryville Mt. by the edge of
Royal Blue WMA  and come out in Caryville, TN.  68 miles total.. There
are several miles of newly paved road from Pewee community in Campbell
County now that makes a quicker trip to the top of the Mt. 

 BIRDS:  CAMPBELL COUNTY
      I began with a brief ride through Cove Lake St. Pk. (Campbell
County)  
where I noted the first GREAT EGRET since last fall.  Ruby -Crowned 
Kinglets were singing as well as Robins and other resident species. 
       On to Old Hwy 63 from here at 8:45  which was a good choice. Along
Cove Creek  ( 7 mile drive) I discovered :   ( 7)  BLACK THROATED GREEN
WARBLERS singing as well as  (1 )  BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER for my first
Campbell County Spring record. 
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS were well represented  (6) but I only heard   1
LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH today. I think it was a little cold for them early
this morning with temps still in the low 40's at that elevation. Many
other resident  species were present and counted. . 
GOLDEN- CROWNED KINGLETS were in seen in 3 little flocks numbering  3-5 
birds in each group with Chickadees. 

SCOTT COUNTY BIRDS- From the county line-Norma to other areas mentioned
above.
-Through the Norma Rd and Community I noted many local resident birds
singing as well as 3 YELLOW-THROATED WARBLERS. (From Norma to 
Smokey Junction is 9.5 m)  Birds along the way were Cardinal,
Mockingbird,
House Finch, Starling  Chickadee, Titmouse, Towhee .  Downy Red Bellied
and Pileated Woodpecker. E.Bluebird Robin   and Brown Thrasher.  Song
Chipping White Throated and Field SParrow.  Crow   Red Tailed Hawk   E.
Phoebe and Pine Warbler
Right onto Smoky Creek Rd- 10.4 m. to where I stopped -Along  this road
which runs along Smoky Creek-  LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH -More 
Yellow-Throated Warblers  (6)
 First Scott County Spring  BLACK THROATED GREEN WARBLERS  (8)
 for Spring as well as BLUE GRAY GNATCATCHER.  Near the end of this road
the elevation took a sharp upward climb the last 4 miles
where I found  6 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS  singing. There is
some possible Golden Winged Warbler Habitat along this road. I also found
EASTERN PHOEBES building a nest underneath a natural rock ledge. 
By now it was mid-day, and the winds had picked up and the temps risen so
that there was little activity. 
   From here I traveled back into the edge of Campbell County to the
Nicks Creek area where I had a mother lode of butterflies in one spot. 8
Tiger Swallowtails as well as 4 Zebra ST.  32 other "blue" species mostly
Azures with 1 Silvery Blue and numerous Sulphers nearby in a field. 
Eastern Phoebes were building a nest under the bridge. 
    Wildflowers are not at peak, but several species were seen today..but
I will stop here since this is a birdline. 
    Apx. 5 miles from Caryville, I found another pair of Eastern Phoebes
building a nest in a hollowed out place in the side of a large rock.
   A wonderful day in the Cumberlands.

  Good Spring birding to all, 
    
Nell Moore
Caryville, TN
N. of Knoxville
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