Fall Migration at its finest! Fall Migration at its finest! Reservations and prepayment are required on all Ventures.
Your place on this Venture will be reserved when the full amount has been received. Please make your check payable to VENTURES, Inc. and send it to this address or call the office with your VISA or MasterCard #.
This Venture is limited to 15 participants.
An easy and relaxing day birding in the Blue Ridge, hopefully hitting fall
migration at its peak. It may be cool first thing in the morning.
The Report from
a Recent September Venture
“Fog was hanging over Asheville and the lower elevations when we began
our day, but the number of birds in the trees at the Folk Art Center indicated
that we might have a good trip ahead of us. And what a day it turned out to be.
Many of us had never seen a movement of birds such as this for a long time - if
ever. Due to the recent storms and rain, the Parkway was closed past Bull Gap,
but that did not matter as we had enough birds to keep us happy all morning.
Thrushes, grosbeaks and tanagers were all busy feeding on the Virginia Creeper
berries and Muscadine grapes and with patience we managed to see Gray-cheeked,
Wood and Swainson's Thrushes. One of the biggest surprises of the day was the
number of Red-headed Woodpeckers flying over. Tennessee Warblers were passing
through in waves and the numbers must have been a lot higher than the 100+
individuals we recorded. A total of 15 warblers for the day indicated the huge
passage of birds this morning. Other highlights were at least 6 Philadelphia
Vireos and early winter visitors such as Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper.
Let's home this is not an indication of an early winter! As the bird activity
had really calmed down after lunch, a few of us drove down to Beaver Lake
Sanctuary to look for any birds at lower elevations, where the biggest surprise
was a very early White-throated Sparrow.” Hopefully this year will be as good
as last and we will have another excellent passage of birds and enjoy a splendid
day enjoying fall migration in the Blue Ridge.
$45 per person per day.
Price includes: A delicious picnic lunch will be provided.
Directions & Time of Departure
We will carpool from the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 382 at 7AM (BEST TIME FOR BIRDS!). Drivers will be given directions from here.
Simon Thompson