Wild Turkeys are very visible in fields right now. Photo by Steven Bullock
January is usually a very slow birding month in the High Country. This year is no exception, but all hope is not lost! The nice thing about living in an area of the state with little bird activity is that we tend to be thankful for the little gifts that we sometimes get, even with common species.
The past few days a huge flock of Wild Turkeys have been in the bottom below Meat Camp Baptist Church. They really are beautiful birds and so amazing that they are so big!! Then last night I had a nice little Eastern Screech Owl calling at the house. Then just today, a really big Raven was in the road eating a rabbit carcass and it stayed in the road until the last possible minute then looked so big and amazing blue-black as he wheeled up in front of the car. Just gorgeous.
But a lot of birders do like the rarities and we have a couple just off the mountains. Dwayne Martin found a Ross' Goose and a Greater White-fronted Goose. There are also some Rufous Hummingbirds still around in the foothills. And now that February is coming, early returnees will be showing up like big flocks of blackbirds and grackles, migrant waterfowl, and sparrows moving through in March. So enjoy these days and look for the passing flock of chickadees, or a Pileated Woodpecker.
For more information on birds in the High Country call the Watauga Birding Hotline at 828-265-0198. Also visit www.ncaudubon.org, www.carolinabirdclub.org, Visit the Audubon North Carolina blog at http://ncaudubonblog.org/blog/
You can always count on Song Sparrows to brighten a winter day. Photo by Don Mullaney
Keep your eyes open for Fox Sparrows. Photo by Amy Cook
Eastern Bluebirds are checking out homes now. Photo by Don Mullaney
