This day trip features birding in some of the most beautiful country that can be found in western North Carolina. There will be moderate hiking –2-3 miles – with some elevation. We will be birding at about 3,500 feet elevation, so dress in layers as it can be quite chilly even in mid-May.

This day trip features birding in the game lands and national forests of Roaring Creek Valley in Avery County, NC. The Roaring Creek Valley forms below the high mountains of Grassy Ridge Bald and Big Yellow Mountain, which are part of the Roan Massif. Here there is a diverse set of habitats including old field and early successional growth that Golden-winged Warblers hone in on for breeding each spring. Our target will be Golden-winged Warblers, which are a rapidly declining species in the Appalachian Mountains. The Roan Massif is one of their last strongholds in Southern Appalachia. We will also bird in the northern hardwood forest looking for interior specialists such as Black-throated Blue Warbler, Veery, and Ovenbird. Some of other target species for the day include Alder Flycatcher and Black-billed Cuckoo, which both breed in the area.