the PLUS in Soup 'n Sparrow + Members of the Bristol Bird Club had a wonderful day birding Saturday and among the best finds were two likely Bald Eagle nests on South Holston Lake - one in Sullivan Co. and the other in Washington Co., VA. The keen eyes and experience of leader Rick Knight found them left and right. Eleven birders turned out for the exciting day and the majority stood as the very first in line for the South Holston Ruritan Club's Soup and Beans event just around the corner from where the group began the day with separate field trips and separate agendas, target birds and different routes. Charlie Ownes, the committee chair for the Ruritan Club event met birders in the parking lot and ushered them to the event at exactly 11 a.m. The BBC members were the very first to enter the all-day event and a Ruritan worker held the door to welcome them in as the door was unlocked. A couple of dozen bowls of all kinds of soup and beans were enjoyed by the group. It was everything anyone would want in a Soup 'n Sparrow tradition event of the Bristol Bird Club members. Birders who took part in the 11 a.m. kickoff of the Ruritan's college scholarship fundraising lunch went on to Painter Creek Marina where they took a float boat birding for the afternoon. BBC BAEA search South Holston Lake 31 Jan 2015.jpg Knight's field trip spent the afternoon (3 hours) searching likely areas where eagles might be found. Shown above, the group heads along the shoreline of Strawberry Ridge back into Big Jacob's Creek cove where the first nest was observed in Sullivan County. It was a very large structure that appeared to be larger than the Bald Eagle's nest frequently visited near Bluff City on the South Fork Holston River. No eagles were present but return trips will be made to watch this nest. In the headwaters of the impoundment in Washington County, VA, two adult Bald Eagles were discovered perched together on a limb in a tall pine on a high ridge. Just across a small cove was a massive Bald Eagle's nest which seemed to have new features. BBC BAEA nest search Avens Bridge Washington Co., TN 31 Jan 2015.jpg This nest is clearly as big as any in the region. The adult birds took flight and soared above us, taking advantage of the gorgeous winter day. The air temperature was 43.7 degrees throughout the hours of boating as we measured it along the way. Birding and boating were both pleasingly comfortable. This will be the seventh (7th) year the eagle pair has nested in this same area with maybe three different nests used there since the first year in 2009. The pair had the first Bald Eagle's nest known in the Tennessee River drainage of Southwest Virginia. John Moyle and Knight each provide birders a choice of great leaders, great places, great food, unique target species and delightful experiences. Moyle took his group on a traditional walking and birding event along eastern Sullivan County's top birding area. Remember that Knight leads a group of birders to Burke's Garden in Tazewell Co, VA Saturday, 7 February 2015. The group gathers at to have breakfast at Hardee's in Tazewell and then heads up into the valley to search for Golden Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.