Birding the Smokies || First birding of 2024!

With somewhat of a time limit, we spent our first birding trip of 2024 in the smokey mountains! First of the year birding success! Every year, birders start with 0 birds for the year and that means that even a common Crow or Robin (at least in our area) can be new and exciting for the year! We didn't start off with a huge number of birds day 1 but seeing our two target birds plus an unexpected lifer made up for that. References Species Maps: Merlin ID Some Descriptions: The Sibley Guide to Birding Birding Camera: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 Scope: Vortex Razor (older version) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002V2UGRC?... Binoculars: Vortex Diamondbacks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07V3LDFCR?... Scope Tripod: Vortex High Country II Vortex is the best for the money and we love ours!