Warren Wilson College and Charles D. Owen Park in Swannanoa are must-stops for any birder visiting the WNC region. Collectively encompassing an area of over 300 acres of agricultural fields and riparian woodland along the Swannanoa River, the adjacent properties provide important habitat for transient species. Fall birding here can be amazing and with over 212 species (including nearly all 37 eastern wood warblers) reported, it is not hard to imagine why!

This ‘Warbler Warm-Up’ is set to take place a couple weeks prior to peak migration time. This will allow us to spend more time with each warbler we find and focus on their key characteristics without being overwhelmed by the large mixed flocks typical of late September. Even so, we will still expect a good mix of migrants coming through at this time, including American Redstart, Northern Parula, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, and Magnolia Warblers, just to name a few. With a bit of luck, we’ll cross paths with some of the more uncommon and highly-sought after birds as well, like Mourning, Wilson’s, Blue-winged, or Golden-winged Warblers.