The High Country surrounding Spruce Pine NC offers optimal conditions for
Bird Watching Vacations. Whether you are looking for Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Scarlet Tanagers, or Whip-Poor-Wills, the Blue Ridge Mountains around Spruce Pine are home to a large variety of birds.
Linville Gorge
 This breathtaking gorge is home to a plethora of birds including the Peregrine Falcon. Wiseman’s View, accessed on the western rim of the gorge, provides the perfect vantage point to watch these amazing birds. Peregrine Falcons are also frequently sited near the Chimneys on the east rim of the gorge as they plummet into the gorge in search of food. Raptors including Red-Tailed Hawks, Cooper’s Hawks and Broad-winged Hawks also fly high above the gorge searching for prey. In the summer, bird enthusiasts can expect to see Black-billed Cuckoos, Chuck-Will’s-Widows, Whip-Poor-Wills, Red-headed Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Canada Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Swaison’s Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, America Redstart, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting. In the winter, Winter Wren and Brown Creepers are added to the variety of bird in
Linville Gorge. Birding is excellent year-round in Linville Gorge and a favorite for beginner and novice bird watchers.
Grandfather Mountain
Grandfather Mountain hosts 7 natural habitats for wildlife native to the High Country region. Wounded eagles are nursed back to health and returned to the wild if possible. If they are not able to return to the wild, Grandfather Mountain is a licensed caretaker and houses them in their Bald Eagle and Golden Eagle habitats. Enjoy the beauty of Bald and Golden Eagles and help support
Grandfather Mountain in their care for these birds.
Moses Cone
Moses Cone is a sprawling Blowing Rock manor built in 1901 by Moses H. Cone. The 500 acre estate is now
known as Moses Cone Memorial Park and
is a fantastic place for bird watching. Bass Lake and Trout Lake in the park are great areas to see Red Crossbills, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Pine Siskins, Red-breasted Nuthatches, wood ducks,
and many species of Warblers and Louisiana Waterthrushes. During the summer, bird watchers can catch sight of Alder Flycatchers, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Brown Creeper and Veeries. In the winter, the endanger Northern Saw-whet is commonly seen, as is the Bard Owl.
Price Park
Just down the street from Moses Cone Memorial Park, Price Park is home to Common Yellowthroats, American Wood ducks, Grey Catbirds and Carolina Wrens.
I hope that you will take a few moments to tour this site to discover all that we have to offer in the wonderful Spruce Pine, NC area. You'll be glad that you did!
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