Cerulean Warbler
With a break in the rainy weather, I wondered if migrating birds that might have been backed up, would now start moving into the area. Yesterday, I saw very few birds along Route 610, but saw some good warblers up on the parkway. My plan for today was to make a quick drive on 610, and then spend more time on the parkway. However, when I stopped first at the old tower on Route 610 around 9:00 a.m., I logged 16 avian species there.
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
I did see one species there that I am having trouble identifying. It looked be larger than a warbler, but its marking look like that of a Yellow-throated Vireo or possibly a Pine Warbler. It's bill however, dosen't look like that of a vireo, even though I think that this is the most likely species.
Yellow-throated Vireo(?)
Yellow-throated Vireo(?)
Yellow-throated Vireo(?)
Yellow-throated Vireo(?)
A little farther down 610, I saw another Cerulean Warbler, a Black and White Warbler, and heard a Hooded Warbler, and already had 23 avain species on my morning list by the time I got back onto the parkway at mm. 4.
Cerulean Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
The upper, south end of the cirque (mm. 7.5) was fairly quiet. I heard a Cerulean Warbler and saw a Scarlet Tanager.
Scarlet Tanager
I had to hit the brakes between mm. 9 and mm. 10. Two small bears ran out right in front of my car. The first photo was taken looking through the windshield, and the other one after they had gotten across the road. Looks like they were telling each other that they were lucky to not have gotten hit, and to remember to look both ways before crossing the road next time.
Black bear
Black bears
I was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of avian activity at the Three Ridges Overlook (mm. 13.1). In addition to non-warbler speces, I saw another Cerulean Warbler and at least two Worm-eating Warblers, and heard an American Redstart.
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Carolina Chickadee
Immature Eastern Towhee
On my return, I stopped again at the old towere on Route 610, and added Ruby-throated Hummingbird and Canada Warbler.
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
I ended the morning with 33 avian species:
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
Common Raven
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Cedar Waxwing
Worm-eating Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch
Scarlet Tanager
Canada Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher