enjoyable, if soggy morning on Mt. Pleasant

Kerry Kilday lead 16 bird watchers on a lovely walk at Bruce and Nancy Summers place in the Mt. Pleasant National Scenic Area this morning. We were at about 2700 ft. elevation on the slopes of Bald Knob according to Bruce. Around the house we heard Wood Thrush and Ovenbird and saw as well as heard a Gray Catbird, Eastern Bluebird and a Chipping Sparrow which, as we watched, plucked several plastic strings from a larger bird's nest and headed off with them to probably use them for it's own nest construction.

We headed up a lovely trail, flanked by the soft green canopy of new leaf growth. With wildflowers at our feet and bird song in the trees it was a delightful mix of looking up and looking down as we walked on Bruce's masterfully maintained trails. We reluctantly turned around when the rain drops became a steady downpour. Luckily we were able to take refuge in Nancy & Bruce's warm, dry and welcoming home.

Here are the birds we identified:
At the Food Lion parking lot:
Fish Crow
Kildeer
At Summers place:
Indigo Bunting
Gray Catbird
Wood Thrush
Ovenbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Woodpecker (Downy or Hairy)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Scarlet Tanager
Hermit Thrush
Northern Cardinal
Blue-headed Vireo
American Redstart
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Phoebe
Common Crow


Wendy Richards

Photo by Lad Sessions