This is shaping up to be a great winter finch year with lots of Purple Finches already around as well as lots of Pine Siskins overhead moving around most days. I had Red Crossbills at Bass Lake still (they were there most of the summer) and there are still American Goldfinches around as well.

We also had Rusty Blackbirds last week at Valle Crucis and this is our best time of year to see them. There are also a few Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and occasionally still some Common Grackles moving through.

Sparrows continue to be a highlight this time of year and yesterday I had my first Fox Sparrow of the year at Meat Camp. White-crowned, White-throated, Swamp, Chipping, Savannah, Song, Field, and maybe a Vesper should all still be found for a couple more weeks, then numbers will start to drop off.

Waterfowl numbers are also increasing with Wood Duck, American Coot, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Mallards, Canada Goose, Hooded Mergansers, and others seen this week on area ponds and lakes.

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 and visit the Audubon North Carolina blog at http://ncaudubonblog.org/blog/ and the High Country Audubon website at www.highcountryaudubon.org

I had my first Fox Sparrow at Meat Camp yesterday. Photo by Amy Cooke


Hooded Mergansers were at Price Lake late last week. Photo by Don Mulaneyy


Purple Finches are common right now. Dwayne Martin has had lots at Stephens Park in Hickory.