Venture to 
Stecoah Gap
With Marilyn Westphal 

April 30, 2006

It was a cool, cloudy morning with rain threatening as the group started down the trail at Stecoah Gap, but the weather improved quickly. Within minutes we came across a Blackburnian Warbler singing from the treetop and were able to get a good view. A little farther down the trail we came across a very busy pair of American Redstarts, and a member of the group found the Redstart nest right over the trail. The Redstarts were not tolerant of other birds near their nest and we watched it chase all the other birds in the area away. Birds were plentiful along the trail and we moved slowly along finding Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, and Black-and-white Warblers more American Redstarts, Ovenbirds, and more Blackburnian Warblers, nearby. A few of the birders managed to get good views of a couple of quick moving Cerulean Warblers along the way. Favorite birds among some members were a pair of cooperative Scarlet Tanagers that entertained us for quite a while at eye level along the trail. Over our heads a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was courting a female. Other interesting birds were a Ruffed Grouse found by one member who hiked ahead of the group, a Raven flying overhead, and a migrating Osprey also flying right over us. The weather held and we had a lovely picnic lunch at the trailhead, but our luck ended after lunch when clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. Considering what the weather was like early in the morning, though, we considered ourselves lucky to have had several good hours of birding.