Chesnut-sided Warbler
It was cloudy this morning with a little bit of fog when I reached the parkway this morning. When I got to the south end of the cirque (mm. 7.5), it was very quiet except for one Chesnut-sided Warbler that was playing "peek-a-boo" with me.
Chesnut-sided Warbler
I then headed south to my other favorite warbler site on the first 14 miles of the parkway - Hickory Springs Overlook at mm. 12. At first, it was quiet, and then my "buddy," a Hooded Warbler popped up and started calling repeatedly.
Hooded Warbler
I looked to the north of the overlook, and saw lots a lots of birds, mostly Red-eyed Vireos and mutiple warbler species fying in and out of the dense trees. Most of them disappeared as soon as they flew into the trees. I tried as best as possibleto photograph as many of them as I could. Only a few of them came close to me.
Female American Redstart
Female American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chesnut-sided Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warblers
Northern Parula
I got a distant and quick view of a blue warbler with white wing bars. It might have been another Northern Parula, but I didn't see any bluish-green on its back. It might have been a Cerulean Warbler, but most Ceruleans have been gone from this area for close to a month.
Cerulean(?) Warbler
In addition to the Red-eyed Vireos, there were quite a few other non-warbler species at this overlook. I saw (and photographed) an Eastern Wood-Pewee, heard a Pileated Woodpecker and a Barred Owl calling, and got photos of a Cedar Waxwing, a Scarlet Tanager, a first year male Eastern Towhee, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Chipmunks were also calling.
Cedar Waxwing and Scarlet Tanager
First year male Eastern Towhee
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Chipmunk
I also heard a Carolina Wren, saw a House Wren, and heard what sounded like a Winter Wren. I did photograph the House Wren and another wren that looks like it could be a Winter Wren, as it has a much shorter and straighter bill, and a fairly short tail.
House Wren
Winter(?) Wren
The warbler flock was moving to the south, so I drove south to the next overlook (3 Ridges), listening for warblers along the way. I didn't hear any, and decided to hike a short distance along the trail at this overlook. A small dark bird flew close to the ground near me. I heard a repeated and sharp chimp call, and then the following bird popped up on a low branch and sat there for a minute or so. I got a few photos of it in the dark woods, and then a few more after it dropped down and then popped up a few feet farther back. This bird has a complete white eye-ring, a stocky body, short tail, a pinkish bill, pink legs, and long toes. It also seems to have a dark bib and a pale buff throat. I'm not 100% certain, but it appears to me to be a fall, female Connecticut Warbler. It could be a Common Yellowthroat or a dull Yellow Warbler, but I'm leaning towards Connecticut.
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Connecticut(?) Warbler
Interestingly, I saw another warbler across the trail path from this possible Connecticut. The second warbler was making a different and buzzy call: tschep. It was a Common Yellowthroat.
Common Yellowthroat