Early Spring Venture 
to Blue Ridge Mountains
April 23, 2005

With Jo Ann Martin and Marilyn Westphal

The weather forecast for the day was discouraging, so we were all surprised when the day started out sunny and calm. Right away we had some great views of an Ovenbird and a couple of Cerulean Warblers squabbling over territory at Craven Gap. Along the parkway numerous Blackburnian Warblers, quite a few Hooded and Black and White Warblers, and several more Cerulean Warblers were singing. The whole group had good views of Blackburnian and Black and White Warblers and heard several more Ovenbirds, and a few Worm-eating Warblers and Yellow-throated Vireos. Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos were busy crossing back and forth over the parkway. Then suddenly the weather forecast turned out to be correct after all. The clouds rolled in, the temperature dropped, the winds picked up, and it started to rain off and on. Although the wind made birding very difficult on most of the parkway, we found some quiet areas where the warblers were surprisingly active in spite of the weather. We had a great view of a Black-throated Blue Warbler north of Bull Creek Valley overlook, and at Lane Pinnacle overlook there were four Blackburnian Warblers battling over territory right in front of us. Another Black-throated Blue Warbler, a Palm Warbler, and another Blue-headed Vireo popped up into the trees right in front of us. We continued up the parkway and one group spotted a Ruffed Grouse alongside the road, but farther up the weather continued to deteriorate and we drove into a thick cloud bank. Parkway traffic diminished to a bunch of crazy birders and some equally insane mountain bikers. Visibility dropped to zero and the temperature slipped down into the thirties. When we stopped at Craggy Gardens we were advised that the parkway was about to be closed because of potential icing, so the crazy birders headed back down to Asheville for lunch where we warmed up at Simon's house.

After lunch, since the parkway was closed, we headed to Beaver Lake and were rewarded with some great views of a Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, another Palm Warbler, many Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Brown-headed Nuthatch. We also watched a Cooper's Hawk swoop down in front of us and catch a Robin.

In spite of the weather everyone had a good time, saw some great birds, and enjoyed the spring wildflowers and great scenery of the mountains in spring.