Birding in East Tennessee

Made it up to Burke's Garden in Tazwell County, Virginia last Saturday.  The day was drizzly and the high elevation valley was very foggy and, as we left, completely socked in with thick clouds.  Before it totally was enveloped by the clouds we did see at least one specialty bird of the valley.  Although we didn't see a Golden Eagle, we did find a Rough-legged Hawk "kiting" like a Kestrel.  To see such a big hawk hovering in one place, no matter how far away (because it was pretty far even for binoculars), is always an amazing feat.  It was just hovering there in mid air, keeping it stationary by its mighty wings searching for prey.  That was until a group of Crows found it and it flew farther away across the great field it was hunting in.  Other good birds we found were Rusty Blackbirds, Brown Creeper, Green-winged Teal, and Red-tailed Hawks, Wild Turkeys (just outside the valley proper), and other common bird sightings.  Good day with Tom McNeil and his son, JT.