Birds of the Blue Ridge Parkway
May 31-June 7, 2010
Tour Report
Entering the Blue Ridge Parkway
(mouse over to enlarge)
Monday, May 31: Arrival in Asheville, NC / Pisgah National Forest
Everyone had arrived in Asheville, NC airport by around 4 p.m, then we were on our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Pisgah National Forest, where we spent the next three nights at the lovely Pisgah Inn.
The inn sits on Mt. Pisgah at about 5,000 feet. That first day, we enjoyed time to walk the grounds and see the views before a welcome dinner in the inn’s restaurant: crab cakes and wine for dinner, while looking out from our table through large plate glass windows to the scenery beyond.
Everyone had arrived in Asheville, NC airport by around 4 p.m, then we were on our way to the Blue Ridge Parkway in the Pisgah National Forest, where we spent the next three nights at the lovely Pisgah Inn.
The inn sits on Mt. Pisgah at about 5,000 feet. That first day, we enjoyed time to walk the grounds and see the views before a welcome dinner in the inn’s restaurant: crab cakes and wine for dinner, while looking out from our table through large plate glass windows to the scenery beyond.
Tuesday, June 1st: Pisgah National Forest
We started out early for an hour walk before breakfast. We spent the next few days hiking the many trails in the Pisgah National Forest in search of some resident warblers.
Our targets were Black-and-white Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and the most sought after of all, Cerulean Warbler. For lunch we picnicked under a buckeye tree.
After an afternoon of birding, we got some rest and relaxation before a casual dinner at the Pisgah Inn.
We started out early for an hour walk before breakfast. We spent the next few days hiking the many trails in the Pisgah National Forest in search of some resident warblers.
Cerulean Warbler (Photo: MDF)
Our targets were Black-and-white Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and the most sought after of all, Cerulean Warbler. For lunch we picnicked under a buckeye tree.
After an afternoon of birding, we got some rest and relaxation before a casual dinner at the Pisgah Inn.
Wednesday, June 2: Graveyard Fields/Richland Balsam Trail
Before breakfast we took an early morning walk. We then headed to the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail which meanders through an area devastated by wildfires in the 1920s and 1940s.The Graveyard Fields are a combination of open grasslands and re-growth with a plethora of berry shrubs for birds such as Alder Flycatcher, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Flicker, Veery, Carolina Chickadee, and Canada Warbler.
For lunch we dined at a local BBQ eatery during an intense thunderstorm. We then headed to a Forest Service Campground where we found three Louisiana Waterthrushes feeding on the ground in front of us.
After dinner at the inn, we went out toward one of the high points, called Devil’s Courthouse, where we encountered a single, calling Saw-whet Owl.
Before breakfast we took an early morning walk. We then headed to the Graveyard Fields Loop Trail which meanders through an area devastated by wildfires in the 1920s and 1940s.The Graveyard Fields are a combination of open grasslands and re-growth with a plethora of berry shrubs for birds such as Alder Flycatcher, Catbird, Carolina Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Flicker, Veery, Carolina Chickadee, and Canada Warbler.
Carolina Wren
For lunch we dined at a local BBQ eatery during an intense thunderstorm. We then headed to a Forest Service Campground where we found three Louisiana Waterthrushes feeding on the ground in front of us.
After dinner at the inn, we went out toward one of the high points, called Devil’s Courthouse, where we encountered a single, calling Saw-whet Owl.
Thursday, June 3: Fletcher Park / Beaver Dam
After breakfast, we checked out of the Pisgah Inn and begin our journey eastward towards Black Mountain. On the way, we made a stop off the parkway an found Carolina Wren, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and a fleeing Barred Owl being scolded by numerous song birds.
Fletcher Park was our next stop, where we had great looks at Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, and many others. Before lunch, we stopped at a local Wild Birds Unlimited store for a little shopping and to support of local business.
After lunch we headed towards the famous Grove Park Inn that lies in north Asheville within a 100-year old neighborhood.
It’s a popular bird sanctuary and provided us with species including Eastern Kingbird, Orchard Oriole, Gray Catbird, Purple Martin, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-throated Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Green Heron.
We then arrived at the Mill Creek Inn B&B to check in a prepare for dinner. Que Sera, a french Restaurant in the quaint town of Black Mountain, was our dining spot.
Afterwards, we returned to the Inn’s property to search for night birds like the Whip-poor-will. No birds were vocal at that time, but some were heard at around 4 am.
After breakfast, we checked out of the Pisgah Inn and begin our journey eastward towards Black Mountain. On the way, we made a stop off the parkway an found Carolina Wren, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, and a fleeing Barred Owl being scolded by numerous song birds.
Eastern Bluebird
Fletcher Park was our next stop, where we had great looks at Willow Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, and many others. Before lunch, we stopped at a local Wild Birds Unlimited store for a little shopping and to support of local business.
After lunch we headed towards the famous Grove Park Inn that lies in north Asheville within a 100-year old neighborhood.
Orchard Oriole (Photo: Dominic Sherony)
It’s a popular bird sanctuary and provided us with species including Eastern Kingbird, Orchard Oriole, Gray Catbird, Purple Martin, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-throated Warbler, Brown-headed Nuthatch, and Green Heron.
We then arrived at the Mill Creek Inn B&B to check in a prepare for dinner. Que Sera, a french Restaurant in the quaint town of Black Mountain, was our dining spot.
Afterwards, we returned to the Inn’s property to search for night birds like the Whip-poor-will. No birds were vocal at that time, but some were heard at around 4 am.
Craggy Gardens
(mouse over to enlarge)
Friday, June 4: Craggy Gardens and Mt. Mitchell
After an early breakfast at the inn, our first birding time produced Indigo Bunting, Swainson’s Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, American Goldfinches and more.
We then returned to the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed towards Craggy Gardens, a rich hardwood and mixed evergreen area, in search of Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Kentucky Warbler, and Pileated Woodpecker.
Our final stop was the highest point east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell, where we had lunch as a thunderstorm approached.
The 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell was an excellent area for discovering high-elevation bird species such as Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Finally, we returned to the Inn to prepare for a dinner at a funky restaurant in an inn at Black Mountain.
After an early breakfast at the inn, our first birding time produced Indigo Bunting, Swainson’s Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, American Goldfinches and more.
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Photo: Dori)
We then returned to the Blue Ridge Parkway and headed towards Craggy Gardens, a rich hardwood and mixed evergreen area, in search of Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Kentucky Warbler, and Pileated Woodpecker.
Our final stop was the highest point east of the Mississippi River, Mount Mitchell, where we had lunch as a thunderstorm approached.
Pine Siskin (Photo: Cephas)
The 6,684-foot Mount Mitchell was an excellent area for discovering high-elevation bird species such as Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill, and Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Finally, we returned to the Inn to prepare for a dinner at a funky restaurant in an inn at Black Mountain.
Saturday, June 5: Carolina Sandhills NWR
We departed after an early breakfast to find the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker across the border into South Carolina. It’s a four hour trip but well worth the travel time.
Along the way, we found numerous birds along the highway including a family of eight Mississippi Kites overhead, Northern Bobwhite Quail (singing) and Great Crested Flycatcher.
In the evening, we returned to Black Mountain for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.
Sunday, June 6: Folk Art Museum/Biltmore Estate
After an early breakfast, we headed towards the Folk Art Museum, birding the grounds before entering for a brief visit to enjoy local crafts and primitive art.
Next, we drove towards the famous Biltmore Estate, the largest home in North America.
The estate is located on 8000 acres located near downtown Asheville. Our group birded along the grounds as we took in the scenery and architecture. Then we found a horse pasture which became our lunch spot, before searching for and finding an Eastern Meadowlark atop a fence post near the Biltmore Winery.
Wine tasting was our next adventure before returning to the inn.
The group shared a final dinner at the contemporary and delicious restaurant “Table” in downtown Asheville. Our meal was delicious and made a great ending to our trip.
After dinner, we shared hugs and I dropped everyone off at the Airport Hotel, ready for their flights home next morning.
We departed after an early breakfast to find the endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker across the border into South Carolina. It’s a four hour trip but well worth the travel time.
Red-cockaded Woodp[ecker
Along the way, we found numerous birds along the highway including a family of eight Mississippi Kites overhead, Northern Bobwhite Quail (singing) and Great Crested Flycatcher.
In the evening, we returned to Black Mountain for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.
Sunday, June 6: Folk Art Museum/Biltmore Estate
After an early breakfast, we headed towards the Folk Art Museum, birding the grounds before entering for a brief visit to enjoy local crafts and primitive art.
Next, we drove towards the famous Biltmore Estate, the largest home in North America.
The estate is located on 8000 acres located near downtown Asheville. Our group birded along the grounds as we took in the scenery and architecture. Then we found a horse pasture which became our lunch spot, before searching for and finding an Eastern Meadowlark atop a fence post near the Biltmore Winery.
Wine tasting was our next adventure before returning to the inn.
The group shared a final dinner at the contemporary and delicious restaurant “Table” in downtown Asheville. Our meal was delicious and made a great ending to our trip.
After dinner, we shared hugs and I dropped everyone off at the Airport Hotel, ready for their flights home next morning.