Venture to Stecoah Gap Graham County, NC
Saturday, April 28, 2007
The skies were blue when we left Asheville, but it did not take long for the clouds to sweep over and the temperature to cool down. The recent freeze which resulted in a lack of leaves made the birds very easy to see and yes, the warblers were dripping from the trees. The walk started with a bang as both male and female Cerulean Warblers fed at eye level near the trail. This was followed quickly by a male American Redstart that "tumbled" out of the treetops, several Blackburnians and a female Black-throated Green Warbler adding down to her nest. Despite the overcast conditions, (we did the see the sun in the afternoon- briefly!) we finished the day with 14 warblers all seen well including over 10 Blackpolls that were migrating through. With most of the new leaves dead, there did not seem to be a lot of food around for the birds, but all seemed healthy and feeding actively. Hopefully the weather will warm quickly to produce an insect hatch.
Stecoah Gap also attracted the birders today, with 3 different groups of birders, plus several individuals watching the warblers along the trail. It was good to see so many folks out enjoying the fine spring birding.
Simon Thompson
| Birds | |
| Broad-winged Hawk (2) | Black-throated Blue Warbler (5+) |
| Downy Woodpecker | Yellow-rumped Warbler (10+) |
| Pileated Woodpecker (3) | Black-throated Green Warbler (10+ nest) |
| Blue Jay | Blackburnian Warbler (10+) |
| American Crow | Blackpoll Warbler (10+) |
| Carolina Chickadee | Cerulean Warbler (pair) |
| Tufted Titmouse | Black-and-White Warbler (5+) |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | American Redstart (10+) |
| Carolina Wren (heard) | Worm-eating Warbler (3) |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2) | Ovenbird (5+) |
| Wood Thrush (1) | Hooded Warbler (I female) |
| American Robin | Scarlet Tanager (1 male) |
| Blue-headed Vireo (Many + nest) | Northern Cardinal |
| Yellow-throated Vireo (4) | Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4) |
| Red-eyed Vireo (8+) | Indigo Bunting (3) |
| Golden-winged Warbler (2) | Eastern Towhee |
| Northern Parula (5+) | Dark-eyed Junco (4) |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (2) | American Goldfinch |
| Butterflies | |
| Pipevine Swallowtail | Spring Azure |
| West Virginia White | |
Hazy Blue Ridge View
Black-throated Green Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Part of the Warbler-Watchers!