Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Tufted Titmouse
I know that good birding for migrating species is about a week away. But we've had heavy thunderstorms for the past five days, and I wondered if some of the early migrating birds might have gotten backed up north of here, and would heading my way now that we have clearer skies, at least for a couple of days. I headed up to the parkway, and got onto Route 610 at mm. 2 of the parkway. Over that two mile stretch before getting back onto the parkway, I had 13 avian species.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Tufted Titmouse
Red-eyed Vireo
I heard one Hooded Warbler and got a quick look at a Cerulean Warbler.
Cerulean Warbler
The highlight of that part of the outing was getting some good looks at a Great Crested Flycatcher. I don't think that I have seen one yet this year, and certainly not along that stretch of Route 610.
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Back on the parkway, I stopped at the south, upper end of the cirque (mm. 7.5). I got quick looks at a male and a female American Redstart, a Black and White Warbler, another Cerulean Warbler, and a Worm-eating Warbler. All four of these warbler species breed there, so I don't think that any of them migrated in during the past few days.
American Redstart
Black and White Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
I stopped at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), and hiked south to the mm. 12 road post. Along the way, I heard another Hooded Warbler, and another Cerulean Warbler, but didn't see either of them. On my hike back to Hickory Springs Overlook, I saw a migrating Bald Eagle soaring southward.
Bald Eagle
As I approached the overlook, I saw a flycatcher perched at the top of the highest branch of a dead tree. My first thought was Eastern Wood-Pewee, as I had been hearing them all morning. But when I got my camera focused on it, I could see the dark vest and spotted undertail coverts of an Olive-sided Flycatcher. I tried to get closer for some better photos, but some tourists had parked at the overlook, their dog jumped out of their car, and as they were yelling for the dog, the Olive-sided Flycatcher flew away to the south. I got a flew flight photos, and a couple of them show the white rump patch of this species.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Olive-sided Flycatcher
I headed down to 3 Ridges Overlook and turned around, eager to see if the Olive-sided Flycatcher might have returned to the same tree at Hickory Springs Overlook, but it wasn't there. A Common Raven was pitching a fit, and I looked up and saw a high flying Broad-winged Hawk going north (avian species #24 of the morning).
Common Raven
Common Raven
Broad-winged Hawk