Birding in East Tennessee

From the Journal of Rob Biller

Birding across Roan Mountain
with Western North Carolina Bird Club and Their Senator

June 25, 2005

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy’s Seasonal Ecologist, Nora Schubert, picked me up at 7:15am and with one quick stop for gas and coffee, we were on our way to meet the Senator Joe Sam Queen and the rest of the birders from Western North Carolina. We arrived at the Creekside Restaurant in Bakersville, North Carolina around 8:20am. Thinking we must have miscommunicated about the meeting location (because of the lack of cars) we gingerly step inside. A quick scan of the main dining area told us that those scattered in the immediate dining area were not with the birding group; most looked to be small families. On our way out the door, Nora asks the young girl by the cash register if there have been any bird watching groups in the restaurant earlier that morning. I braced myself for the blank stare, the puzzled look, and the repetition of the word “Bird Watcher,” as is usually the case. Instead, and to my surprise, she said that someone had just asked a similar question and they had stepped in the back for a moment. Then, another moment later, we meet our first birder from Western North Carolina. We all sat down and ordered coffee and biscuits until the rest of the group arrived led by the Senator and his wife, Kate. After the greetings and all the introductions were made, we were ready to do some serious birding on Roan Mountain.

Because we were on the North Carolina side of Roan Mountain, we decided to start at Carver’s Gap. This high elevation start to the morning had some definite possibilities for a good start. Nora lead us on a quick loop on part of the Appalachian Trail from the road to the parking area restrooms where we sample Red-breasted Nuthatch, Canada Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Winter Wren, Pine Siskins, and a single, female Red Crossbill. We arrive back at the parking area where we find a Chestnut-sided Warbler singing along with an Appalachian race of the Dark-eyed Junco. Next we hike up Round Bald where we find more Chestnut-sided Warlbers, Juncos, Cedar Waxwings, a houseless House Wren, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird checking out the purple bloom of the Catawba Rhododendrons. At Engine Gap we reached our hiking prize of a couple of endangered Gray’s Lillies, but were not rewarded by their bloom. They were in the bud stage and would need a little more time to muster enough energy to open their beautiful orange-red bloom. The Flaming Azaleas were enough of a reward as they were still in full bloom.

Next we carpooled down the Tennessee side of the mountain to a favorite stop known as Hummingbird Hill. While I was speaking with the people who live in the large A-frame house, the group had a Buteo that they could not get a handle on. Some were going with immature Red-tail and others thought Broad-winged, but it would officially be written down as Buteo species. Here we were also treated with the full song of a Veery’s flute (instead of just the “veer” we heard at Carver’s Gap), and a Least Flycatcher. We were also delighted with a well concealed Dark-eyed Junco nest. The nest was located in the garden of the local resident and contained three babies securely huddled together.

For lunch we stopped at the Twin Springs Recreational area of the Cherokee National Forest. Having the whole area to ourselves, we are able to add to our list Ovenbird, Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Hairy Woodpecker, and Downy Woodpecker. From here we would drive to Hampton Creek Cove, a very special place on Roan Mountain.

Hampton Creek Cove is a 693-acre Tennessee designated Natural Area on the Roan Mountain Massif. This large tract of land is home to the National Historic Overmountain Victory Trail, a major restoration point for Eastern Brook Trout, nesting area for the declining Golden-winged Warbler, and an 150-year old farmstead that is still maintained by a caretaker that keeps with all the cultural traditions of working the land. Hampton Creek Cove is the largest, non-federal tract of land that belongs to the highly significant and important Highlands of the Roan; and, because it is such an important area, the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) worked with the previous landowners to protect the tract of land. After acquiring the land, the SAHC sold the land to the state of Tennessee in 1986 with leases and agreements in place to allow SAHC to continue to monitor and manage this naturally and historically significant land. A large portion of the Seasonal Ecologist’s duties for SAHC is to help manage, maintain, and monitor the Hampton Creek Cove Natural Area.

As we entered the Natural Area, Senator and Overmountain Man Club member Joe Sam Queen gave the bird group a brief history of the trail and the men who made it historic. It wasn’t long after that we were seeing lots of butterflies. The Silver Spotted Skipper must have just exploded on the scene as they were everywhere. Fritillary Butterflies of the family Nymphalidae were also quite popular and abundant. The Butterfly that got most people’s attention though was the Painted Lady. Everyone rushed over to see this little beauty. We had a nice bird list as well. A Golden-winged Warbler was heard singing but would only give brief appearances to tease us, other birds included Gray Catbird, Tree Swallow, Least Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, Eastern Wood Pewee, White-eyed Vireo, Wild Turkey (and young), Indigo Buntings, Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Towhee, Hooded Warbler, Downy Woodpecker, Veery, Wood Thrush, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Canada Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a couple of Northern Bobwhites.

After leaving Hampton Creek Cove, we added Black and White Warbler and White-breasted Nuthatch at a brief stop in the Roan Mountain State Park Campgrounds. Then at another brief stop at Jack’s Grocery in Burbank, TN we added Chimney Swift, and House Sparrow. Our final stop was at Golden-winged Warbler Curve. I named this long curve just above Burbank this because I have gotten Golden-winged Warblers at the location many times before, but it is also just a good birding stop in general. While we don’t hear or see any of the curve’s namesakes, we do add to our list Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

All that was left to do was compile our list. (See below for complete bird, plant, and butterfly list.) We used Carver’s Gap overflow parking to fellowship about the bird, plant, and butterfly highlights that were spotted that day and the good time had by all. Nora handed out SAHC brochures and explained how individual memberships to the Conservancy and donations greatly contribute to the protection of land on Roan Massif. She went on to explain how there are volunteer summer workshops that the SAHC performs on Roan Mountain to keep the blackberry at bay over the balds or helping to clear the Overmountain Trail in Hampton Creek Cove. Many thanks go to Nora Schubert, Senator Joe Sam Queen, and his wife Kate for a tremendous trip over my favorite mountain in Tennessee. Also thanks to Beth Brinson for sending the trip list and for her extreme knowledge of flowering plants.

After picking up Nora’s car in Bakersville, we return to Carver’s Gap and make the turn to check out a few specialties at the highest elevations on Roan Massif. We were happily surprised to discover two to three more Endangered Gray’s Lillies budding out and the equally endangered Roan Mountain Bluets just starting to bloom. Other high elevation plants included Tassel Rue, St. John’s Wort, Lesser Stichwort, Common Cinquefoil, one of the two high elevation species of Ragwort, Canada Mayflower, Mountain Bluet, and the endangered Spreading Avens (Geum radiatum).

Rob Biller
June 26, 2005

Authors Note: As I sat in my car at Hampton Creek Cove parking area writing the above entry I heard/saw the following species of birds: Yellow Warbler, Least Flycatcher, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Mourning Doves, Song Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Indigo Bunting, Cowbirds, Eastern Towhee, Blue Jay, Wood Thrush, and Cedar Waxwings. After the rain quit, a brief walk into the lower part of the cove added Northern Bobwhite and a Golden-winged Warbler. A brief conversation with Nora would add Alder Flycatcher to the 2005 Hampton Creek Cove bird list. She had run into Fred Alsop as he exited the property earlier in the day and told her about a singing Alder Flycatcher which she also heard. Fred has had them in the cove before but not for a couple of years or so.

The complete bird, plant, and butterfly list:

Bird List:

Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Wild Turkey
Northern Bobwhite
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Acadian Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
White-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Golden-winged Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Canada Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Red Crossbill
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Notable Plants:

Catawba Rhododendron
Flame Azalea
American Mountain-ash
Thyme-leaved Bluets
Purple Bluets
Three-toothed Cinquefoil
Rough Cinquefoil
Common Cinquefoil
Green Alder
Skunk Currant
Golden Ragwort
Robbins'/Schweinitz's Ragwort
King Devil
Michaux's Saxifrage
Mountain Wood Sorrel
Canada Mayflower
Gray's Lily (bud)
Mountain Cranberry
Sanicle
White Madder
Lesser Stitchwort
Black-eyed Susan
Yarrow
Ox-eye Daisy

Butterflies:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Azure sp.
Great Spangled Fritillary
Pearl Crescent
Painted Lady
Silver-spotted Skipper