Might Have Taken Four Years But The Wood Booger Returned To Sill Branch Falls

On Thursday afternoon I decided to enjoy the weather and return to the Clark's Creek Area of the Cherokee National Forest and Sill Branch Falls.

The hike served two purposes...the first was a return to one of East Tennessee's most beautiful waterfalls. Contrary to Gregory Plum's book Waterfalls of Tennessee this 50 footer is spectacular. My first time seeing it (four years ago) was in the dead of winter, but while not that stunning it was worth the trip all-the-same.

The other reason...I need to break in my new hiking boots (Salomon Ultra 3) and they are pretty sweet.

It Is A St. Patty's Day Double For The Fifth Annual Hiking Weekend

When you say St. Patrick's Day, what comes to mind? Beer, corned beef or Leprechaun movie marthon...no for me it is hiking. This weekend for the Fifth Annual St. Patty's Day Weekend Hike I did two. The first was a Sierra Club hike I led on Saturday at House Mountain State Naturalist Area, just inside Knox County.

I went over it in more detail here as my last visit was surprisingly over two years ago since it is only an hour too here. Overall, we did 5.5 miles, but because of the clear weather no rainbows or Leprechauns.

That brings us to St. Patty's Day proper and once again I decided to head out on a hike, this time to Laurel Run Park. This is a place I frequent more often than House Mountain for one because it is closer, I love the waterfalls and this time of year wildflowers. You will be able to see more of these it the future, but there was already plenty out on this cold March morning.

Oh, and the waterfalls were gorgeous as always and this time I didn't have to deal with ice. Once again it was Chamber of Commerce Weather, but no rainbows or you know someone asking: "where's my gold."
Still, there was no better way to enjoy the St. Patty's Day Weekend than a couple of trips on the trail.

Wildflife: Birds of Mid-March

Last month I did just one of these blogs, but because I have taken so many bird pictures (including Chuck). So, I am doing a Picture Blog of birds in the first half of March. Anyway, with that said...enjoy!

Purple Finch (M)

Purple Finch (F)

Chuck

House Finch (M)

House Finch (F)

Tufted Titmouse (Tut Mouse)

Chickadee

Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker (M)

European Starling

Bluebird

Dark-Eyed Junco

Eastern Towhee (M)

Dove

He's Still Alive! The Legend Of Chuck Continues...& Mama June

I have spent most of the last week at the Cabin in Southwest Virginia. I could talk about hikes, including up to Big & Little Knob or problems solved or back on the road crew again. But no, I know everyone wants to hear more exploits of my favorite bird, the Purple Finch, Chuck. However, he wasn't alone because his girlfriend showed up and I named her Mama June, but more about her later.

Like I said previously, I worried that Chuck might not have survived after eating himself into a stupor. When I got at the Cabin on Friday I loaded up the feeder, and while there were plenty of birds, there was no Chuck. However, when I started out on the porch Saturday morning, there he was...eyes closed and doing what he does best, eating. Although he was chowing down he seemed to have learned his lesson and not eat to the point where he couldn't get airborne.  Oh, one other thing he can open his eyes, but not often.

That brings us to Mama June. I had seen female Purple Finches up there before, but this one was beefier, camped out on the feeder and had her eyes closed most of the time. She has to be with Chuck as they look like a perfect match. So, I just decided to caller her Mama June. She was there on the final day, and so was Chuck as he came back one more time. Here is hoping I get to see my pal Chuck in the future...never change Chuck, never change...