TN-birders, Sharon Bostick, Frank Bills, Dollyann, and I went up the Cherohala Skyway (highway 165) in Monroe County this morning to try to find some birds. It was nice and cool with the clouds moving through the area and we saw a nice assortment of higher elevation species. On the way down, not far past the turnoff for the Indian Boundary area, we found a female Ruffed Grouse perched on the guardrail by the side of the road. She acted like she was frozen. We stopped the car in the road to get a better look (not exactly the safest thing one can do here) at this difficult-to-see species. Fortunately traffic was light and we got crippling views. Some motorcycles came past, went around us, and the grouse still stayed frozen on the guardrail. We figured there were young birds around, and when the grouse finally flew off, there was at least 1 young bird with it. This was by far the best I have ever seen this species! Awesome! I love this stuff! Hope you enjoy the photo. Ron Hoff & Dollyann Myers Clinton, TN
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