Field Trip Schedule and Descriptions

Field Trip Descriptions

All-Day Trips

Trips 1 & 17: Blue Ridge Parkway North

This is a great trip for a wide variety of low and high elevation breeding woodland species of the Southern Appalachians. The trip begins at the Folk-Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway north of Asheville and continues north to Mount Mitchell. Along the way a wide variety of warblers occur, including Black-and-white, Hooded, Cerulean, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided, as well as Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Veery; Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated Vireo; and Eastern Wood Pewee. In the Mount Mitchell area look for Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, and possibly Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill. Time permitting the trip will continue down Curtis Creek Rd for Louisiana Waterthrush, Swainson's Warbler, and Acadian Flycatcher.
Restrooms: At Craggy Gardens and at Mount Mitchell
Walking: Mainly along overlooks
Distance: 10.7 miles

Trips 2 & 18: Curtis Creek Road/Mount Mitchell/BRP

This is basically the reverse of the Blue Ridge Parkway North trip and the same species should be seen. Swainson's Warblers are common along Curtis Creek Road as well as Black-throated Green and Hooded Warbler and Northern Parula at the lower end of the road as well as Worm-eating, Black-and-white, and Black-throated Blue Warbler farther up the road. It will start at the lower end of Curtis Creek Rd and continue up to the parkway to Mount Mitchell, then south on the BRP to the Asheville exit. Along the parkway Blackburnian Warblers are common at several locations as well as the usual higher elevation species such as Red-breasted Nuthatch, Blue-headed Vireo, some Brown Creeper, and possibly Pine Siskin and Red Crossbill.
Restrooms: At Curtis Creek Campground and at Mount Mitchell
Walking: Easy to moderate
Distance: 13.8 miles

Trips 3 & 19: Blue Ridge Parkway South

The trip will begin at Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head south to Mount Pisgah, Black Balsam Road, and Devil's Courthouse, thus covering both high and low elevation habitats and species. Some of the many expected species in- clude Canada, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose- breasted Grosbeak, Veery, Least Flycatcher, and possibly Red Crossbill, Peregrine Falcon and Ruffed Grouse, as well as other migrants just passing through.
Restrooms: At Pisgah campground and at Graveyard Fields
Walking: Easy to moderate
Distance: 10.7 miles

Trips 4 & 20: Max Patch Road

If Golden-winged Warbler is your target species this trip is your best opportunity, but it is also great for many other warblers and other songbirds such as Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, Veery, Least Flycatcher, and many more. Time permitting on the return journey there will be a stop at Lake Junaluska to check for lingering waterfowl and shorebirds.
Restrooms: None after leaving the group meeting area
Walking: Easy
Distance: 40.4 miles

Trips 5 & 21: Green River Cove Road/Lake Adger headwaters

This is a great area for species commonly found along the Blue Ridge Escarpment including Louisiana Waterthrush, Swain- son's, Kentucky, Worm-eating, Yellow-throated, and Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and White-eyed Vireo. At Lake Adger in recent years, Prothonotary Warblers have been regularly found, Great Blue Herons nest in the trees near the road, Cliff Swallows nest under some of the bridges and Osprey and Bald Eagle can often be seen circling around overhead. This trip will require doubling up in vehicles as some stops have very limited parking.
Restrooms: Only at group meeting area and possibly at a park along the road if open
Walking: Easy
Distance: 40 miles

Half-Day Trips

Trips 6 & 22: Chimney Rock State Park/Lake Lure

The stunning views alone make this trip a winner, but the park is also home to many wonderful birds and wildflowers. Breed- ing species include Worm-eating, Swainson's, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, and Hooded Warbler, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireo, Acadian Flycatcher, Peregrine Falcon and Broad-winged Hawk and you may also find a variety of migrants heading farther north. At Lake Lure you will likely add Yellow and Yellow-throated Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, swallows, sparrows, and possibly lingering waterfowl. The entrance fee to the park is $15/person, which is not included in the CBC meeting registration, so please have the exact amount ready.
Restrooms: Both at the park and at Lake Lure
Walking: Easy to moderate
Distance: 21.9 miles

Trips 7, 12, 23, and 28: Charles D. Owen Park/Swannanoa River

This county park is a popular spot for local birders. Both Orchard and Baltimore Oriole as well as Warbling and Yellow-throated Vireo nest along the river and/or the tree lined lake. Continuing the walk from the park to the farm fields at neighboring War- ren Wilson College, birders frequently encounter shrub-edge and open-field birds such as Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Bob- white, and a variety of sparrows including Grasshopper, Field, Song, and possibly some late-departing Swamp, Savannah, White-crowned, and White-throated.
Restrooms: At Owen Park
Walking: Easy
Distance: 7 miles

Trips 8 & 24: Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary

This 10-acre tract in Asheville is managed by the Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society. It consists of mixed hardwood and pine, along with early successional habitat, and includes a wetland that abuts Beaver Lake. It is often an excellent spot for migrat- ing songbirds such as Blue-winged Warbler and Northern Waterthrush, but is also home to many breeding species such as Northern Rough-winged, Tree, and Barn Swallows; Green Herons; Yellow Warblers; American Redstarts; and Orchard and Balti- more Orioles. Also, look for lingering waterfowl on Beaver Lake.
Restrooms: Nearby, but not at the sanctuary
Walking: Easy
Distance: 18.8 miles

Trips 9, 15, 25, & 31: Blue Ridge Parkway North

This trip is similar to the all-day trip on the Parkway north and will also start at the Folk-Art Center but will end in the Craggy Gardens area. Many of the same species can be found as with the all-day trip such as Black-and-white, Hooded, Cerulean, Worm-eating, Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian and Chestnut-sided Warblers. We could also find Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Veery; Red-eyed, Blue-headed, and Yellow-throated Vireo; and Eastern Wood Pewee.
Restrooms: At Craggy Gardens if trip goes that far
Walking: Easy to moderate
Distance: 10.7 miles

Trips 10, 16, 26, & 32: Blue Ridge Parkway South

The trip will begin at The French Broad River overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway and head south to Mount Pisgah Campground. Some of the many expected species include Canada, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, and Chestnut-sided Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Veery, Least Flycatcher, and possibly Red Crossbill, Peregrine Falcon and Ruffed Grouse as well as some passage migrants.
Restrooms: At Pisgah Inn
Walking: Easy to moderate
Distance: 10.7 miles

Trips 11 & 27: Point Lookout Trail

From Ridgecrest this paved, forested trail, once US 70, but now closed to traffic, parallels US 40 going down the edge of the escarpment and is a fine location for mid to lower elevation forest species common to the escarpment. This includes Oven- bird, Black-throated Green, Hooded, Worm-eating, and Black-and-white Warblers, as well as, at times, Kentucky, Swainson's, and Cerulean Warblers. Also expect Scarlet Tanager, various Vireo species, Gnatcatchers, and other spring breeding species as well as possibly some forest migrants heading farther north.
Restrooms: Not on location, but there will be a gas station nearby at the start and end of the walk.
Walking: Largely downhill going out, and uphill coming back.
Distance: 5 miles

Trips 13 & 29: Birding Techniques for Beginners

This trip will dedicate a large amount of time to teaching various birding techniques including: locating birds, basic vocal and visual identification tips, group birder etiquette, and other useful birding tips. The trip is designed for any beginning to interme- diate birder looking to enhance their birding skills. The trip leader will select the location. It may be on Assembly grounds or nearby. Beyond the development of these basic birding techniques and skills, participants will also be able to hone these skills while in the field looking at live birds. This trip will take a slower approach with time spent focusing on techniques and field marks rather than a complete species inventory of everything at the park.
Restrooms: Yes
Walking: Easy
Distance: Probably 0-10 miles

Trips 14 & 30: YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly Trails

With over 1000 acres of wooded property and miles of trails, there are many possibilities for a variety of species. The trails near the entrance to the property include stream-front woods with rhododendron thickets where Swainson's Warblers can be heard calling that often can be found close up. Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Hooded, and Pine Warblers, Ovenbird, Louisiana Waterthrush, Scarlet Tanager, and Wood Thrush also all commonly occur along the trails. Around the pond look for swifts, swallows, phoebes, and a variety of other open-area birds.
Restrooms: At lodge and at trailhead at lower end of entrance road
Walking: Easy at lower end of property, steeper for trails at upper end of property.
Distance: On-site, one-mile drive to beginning of lower trails

Meeting Notes

• All-day trips and BRP half-day trips have a limit of 12. All other trips have a limit of 15.
• Plan to bring water, snacks and lunch for the all-day trips since there may not be food available along the route unless otherwise noted in the field trip description. There are several restaurants and sandwich shops near the hotel so you can purchase takeout for lunch the night before.
• Water and snacks are also a good idea for the half-day field trips.
• All trips will leave from the hotel at the times indicated on the schedule. Look for the placard with your trip number. There will be a sheet with all directions for your trips e-mailed to you in advance. Please bring it on each trip as caravans sometimes break down and, if so, you'll still be able to get to the trip site. Get the leader's cell number before you leave, just in case.
• If you prefer to meet the group at the site, be sure to inform the leader and make a notation on the field trip attendee list so the leader will not be looking for you at the hotel.
• The times listed on the sign-in sheets are when cars are lined up in the parking lot and leaving. Please be there at least 10 minutes early and identify yourself to the leader. If you decide not to go on a trip, either scratch through your name beforehand on the supplied lists on the registration tables or tell the leader. Please consider doing this in advance so others may use the open spot if desired.
• We try to take as few vehicles as possible on field trips to save gas, make caravanning easier, and to make better use of the limited parking that exists at some stops. Please plan on carpooling, and if you would like to drive and have room for new or old friends, please let your trip leader know.