I birded the Blue Ridge Parkway between mm. 7-1/2 and mm. 12-1/2, as well as Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 of the parkway on June 5, 6, and 8 (with Tink Moyer this day). Smoke from the Canadian wildfires was not too much of a problem, although I did have to keep my car windows rolled up most of the time between stops. There was good birding there on these days, and I ended up with 32 avian species including 8 warbler species.
A first summer male American Redstart had a pale buff breast band that I could only see when it was not in direct sunlight, and an adult male had so much orange on its breast that I first thought it might have been a Blackburnian Warbler when seeing only part of the bird through some foliage.
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
There were two highlights during these outings. A pair of Kentucky Warblers continues to be seen along Route 610 between the old tower and Old Elk Mountain Road.
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
And I stopped again at the American Redstart nest where three chicks hatched on June 6. In my separate June 6 report, the chicks had their eyes closed, but their eyes were open today. Click here to read my June 6 report.
Female American Redstart on the nest (June 5)
Female American Redstart and three chicks (June 8)
Female American Redstart and three chicks (June 8)
Female American Redstart and three chicks (June 8)
Female American Redstart checking the nest (June 8)
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Wood-Pewee
This Eastern Phoebe had such a dark vest that I had to make sure it wasn't an Olive-sided Flycatcher
Millipede
Wildflowers
Three day list:
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Carolina Chickadee
European Starling
Wood Thrush
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Towhee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting