Paul Laurent, owner of Epic Nature Tours, will be leading us at one of his favorite birding spots. The Grandfather Mountain Profile Trail is a fantastic spot for a wide range of nesting birds, including many species of warblers, thrushes, and even Peregrine Falcons. The first section of the trail is only a moderate hike, without a huge change in elevation as the trail meanders along the Watauga River and through rich cove and acid cove forest habitat. The hike is around 2.5 miles, should take a couple of hours, and is a moderate difficulty trail. If it has rained recently the trail can be muddy in places. We will meet at the Profile Trailhead off Hwy 105 just north of the Lowes Food shopping center at 9am.