Saturday was the perfect day for a hike, with a Carolina blue sky, a few puffy clouds and a slight breeze. Ten participants met at Massie Gap for a guided hike to the summit of Mt. Rogers, led by Dr. Phil Shelton and Roald Kirby, program director for Blue Ridge Expeditions. The group was treated to an amazing breadth of knowledge about Mt. Rogers by both Roald and Dr. Shelton. Stops were made frequently to observe such species as Spruce and Fir trees, Mountain Ash with its beautiful red berries, and the following birds:
Turkey Vulture
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Blue Jay
Common Raven
American Crow
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
[Possible] Sharp-shinned Hawk
We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Dr. Shelton for taking the time to share in our passion for the Blue Ridge mountains.
Please visit blueridgediscoverycenter.org for information on other upcoming Blue Ridge Expedition events.
