Asheville Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Asheville Meeting Field Trip Descriptions

Trips 1 & 17 - Chimney Rock State Park/Lake Lure

Chimney Rock, a 1,000-acre park purchased by the state in 2007, features several trails through mixed hardwood forests and rhododendron thickets. It is a great place for Worm-eating and Swainson's Warblers and many other species, including Peregrine Falcon. Be aware that the trails feature some elevation change. Entrance to the park requires admission (not included in the meeting registration fee), however we do have a discounted group rate. Due to a landslide on one trail, the reduced rate is $10 unless the slide is cleared by May, then the price will be $12 each. Please have exact change or use a credit card. This park, at low elevation, will definitely be one of the best trips of the weekend in terms of quantity and quality of migrants. Restrooms available.

Trips 2, 7, 18 & 23 – Craggy Gardens/Blue Ridge Parkway North

For a nice mix of low and high elevation species and breeding woodland songbirds in just a few hours, this trip fits the bill. The trip begins up Beaverdam Rd. in Asheville to Craven Gap and continues to the Craggy Gardens Visitors Center, climbing 3,000 feet in elevation along the way. The first few miles from Craven Gap to Lane Pinnacle Overlook is one of the best spots in the Carolinas to find Cerulean Warbler. Other common species in this area include Black-and-white, Worm-eating, Blackburnian, and Hooded Warblers, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, Blue-headed, Red-eyed, and Yellow-throated Vireos, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Kentucky Warblers are often found in the area of Craven Gap. Travelling farther up the Parkway to Craggy Gardens, other species such as Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided, and Canada Warblers, Veery, Blue-headed Vireo, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak become more common. Many migratory species such as Cape May, Blackpoll, and Magnolia Warblers are also quite possible anywhere along the way. Restrooms at Craggy Gardens.

Trips 3, 9, 19 & 25 – Mt. Pisgah/Davidson River

As with the trip headed north on the Parkway, this trip going south provides a nice mix of breeding woodland songbirds found at various elevations. Beginning at the French Broad River Parkway access point, common species include Black-and-white, Worm-eating, and Hooded Warblers, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, three vireo species, Wood Thrush, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. Continuing along the Parkway towards Mt. Pisgah, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Canada Warblers, Veery, Blue-headed Vireo, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak become more common. This trip will continue on to Wagon Road Gap down NC 276, stopping at key spots along the way to add Louisiana Waterthrush and Northern Parula, along with a very short side trip up NC 275A to add Swainson's Warbler, and another stop farther down 276 to add Yellow-throated Warbler to the list. Many migratory species such as Cape May, Blackpoll, and Magnolia Warblers are also quite possible anywhere along the way.

Trips 4, 21 & 26 - Fletcher Park/Lake Julian

Fletcher Park is a wonderful, small city park that lies in the French Broad River Valley. Several good birds have been reported here, including Philadelphia Vireo, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Baltimore Oriole. A small wetland features breeding Willow Flycatchers, and several other water-loving species may also be seen here. Lake Julian, a Progress Energy reservoir, is heated throughout the year, which helps bring migrating water birds. Lingering waterfowl could include loons, ducks, geese, cormorants, terns, and gulls. Restrooms available. Walking: level.

Trips 5 & 12 - Sandy Mush Gamelands

This is 2,600 acres of low-elevation mountain habitat. Through prescribed burns, native grasses and early successional habitat are created for such species as Northern Bobwhite, Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Kingbird, Field Sparrow, and possibly Blue-winged Warbler. Also included are mixed hardwoods and pines, along with floodplain forest. Along Sandy Mush Creek, deciduous woods can hold Scarlet Tanager, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Louisiana Waterthrush and Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos.

Trips 6, 8, 22 & 24 - Jackson Park

Located next to downtown Hendersonville, this 212-acre city park has a statewide reputation as a birding mecca and features a mix of hardwoods and pines, riparian woodlands, wetlands, streams and fields. As a known migrant trap, 20-25 species of warblers in a day are possible in the fall, and spring birding can approach that number. Add Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a variety of thrushes and flycatchers and you'll know why this park draws in the birders. Easy walking with no hills. Restrooms: yes.

Trips 10, 20 & 28 - Owen Park/Warren Wilson

The Swannanoa River flows through this county park that's well-known to locals as a good birding spot. Both Orchard and Baltimore Oriole, along with Yellow- throated Vireo, nest along the river. After an easy walk around a tree-lined lake, we walk a short distance to the farm fields of Warren Wilson College. Migrant Blue-winged warblers have been seen in recent years, along with typical farmland birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Bobwhite, and Grasshopper Sparrow. Restrooms at Owen Park. Walking: level.

Trips 11 & 27 - Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary

This 10-acre tract is managed by the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society. It consists of mixed hardwoods and pine, along with early successional habitat, and also includes a wetland that abuts Beaver Lake. We'll check the lake for an assortment of swallows such as Northern Rough-winged, Tree and Barn, as well as Chimney Swift. There could also be some lingering waterfowl, along with nesting Green Heron. While walking the boardwalk loop and lake trail, species such as Yellow Warbler, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Baltimore and Orchard Oriole, American Redstart and Eastern Kingbird should be seen.

Trips 13 & 29 - BRP South-Mt Pisgah/Devil's Courthouse/Cathey's Creek

Like trips 15 and 31 going north on the Parkway, this trip south on the Parkway offers a wide range of species specializing in different woodland habitats at different elevations, and the list of potential species is almost identical. Although there is no known Cerulean Warbler spot along this route, Black-capped Chickadees (or possible hybrids) can be found from Black Balsam south. After visiting Devil's Courthouse to look for Peregrine Falcon, we will return to NC 215 and head down Cathey's Creek to look for Louisiana Waterthrush and Swainson's Warbler.

Trips 14 & 30 - Max Patch/Lake Junaluska

If you want to see Golden-winged Warblers, this is the trip for you! Generally 15-20 other warbler species may be found, including Blackburnian, Canada, and Chestnut-sided. Least Flycatcher can be plentiful, along with Winter Wren, Veery, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and other middle elevation species. The lake often has waterfowl surprises. No restrooms. Walking: limited/level/hills.

Trips 15 & 31 - BRP/Mt. Mitchell/Curtis Creek

For a great list of many of the breeding woodland species of the Southern Appalachians, this is the trip. Starting at Craven Gap, we will drive north on the Parkway looking for Cerulean, Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Worm-eating, Hooded, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, and Chestnut-sided Warblers as well as Ovenbird, American Redstart, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated Vireos, and Eastern Wood-Pewee. In the spruce/fir zone of the Black Mountains/Mt. Mitchell, species such as Common Raven, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Least Flycatcher, and possibly Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill could be added. Time permitting, we will continue down Curtis Creek Rd. to search for Louisiana Waterthrush and Swainson's Warbler. Several other more northerly migrating species could also be found passing through the area.

Trip 16 – Whitesides Mountain

This trip is designed specifically for Peregrine Falcons, but we'll also be looking at high country breeding birds and migrants. We hope for spectacular views of the falcons and the unique environment they inhabit. A one-mile uphill walk will get us to the area. We'll bird along the way to the top before enjoying sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. There will be stops along the Blue Ridge Parkway as time allows.