First of 3 Scarlet Tanagers today
With temperatures forecasted in the upper 90s for this afternoon, plus lots of errands and other non-birding stuff I had to do in the afternoon, I got an earlier start on the parkway and Route 610. That might have been a mistake, as I took my usual route, and all of my good birding locations were still in shadow from the mountain crests, and all the birds were very high up at the tree tops. I heard a few warblers on Route 610, but could not see them well enough to identify them. A few woodland species were closer to my eye level.
First of 3 Scarlet Tanagers today
I got my first warblers at the south end of the cirque (mm. 7.5). Three Common Yellowthroats were in the brush on the east side of the parkway, and several birds were flitting about in the trees on the west side. I managed out-of-focus shots of a Yellow-throated Vireo and an Ovenbird, and a Blackburnian Warbler gave me a partial view.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-throated Vireo and Ovenbird
Blackburnian Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Immature female Eastern Towhee
Immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
There wasn't much to see at Hickory Springs Overlook, so I continued on to 3 Ridges Overlook, and got a few species along the trail, including a Gray-cheeked Thrush.
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
I turned around and hoped for better luck with some sunshine on the return trip. The cirque yielded a Cape May Warbler and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Cape May Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
I stopped on Route 610 when I heard warblers, and found three in a small flock.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
A bit farther north on 610, I got my 9th warbler species of the trip.
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
Nine warbler species are usually a very good outing for me, but after the past two days of warblers dripping from the trees, today was ho-hum :-)
Chipmunk