Blue Grosbeak
There was light drizzle all morning, so I only did a short hike, and ended up with 16 avian species. The male and female Blue Grosbeaks continue along Slabtown Branch Creek.
Blue Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Red-shouldered Hawk
It was quite foggy, but it started to clear by 9:45. When I got up to Rockfish Gap at 10:00, it was still really foggy, but cleared as soon as I got to the old tower on Route 610. There were a few brief periods of sunshine, but it was mostly cloudy during the rest of the morning. Birds were flitting high up in the trees at the old tower. I heard the dawn song of a Hooded Warbler, but did not see it.
Red-eyed Vireo
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler and Red-eyed Vireo
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Tufted Titmouse
I continued south on Route 610, heard another Hooded Warbler, and stopped near the intersection of the parkway at mm. 4 where there was quite a bit of avian activity. I got a quick look at a Chestnut-sided Warbler, and got my best photos of the morning - a Yellow-throated Vireo.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
I had already logged 20 avian species on Route 610 when I got back onto the parkway and headed south. At the south, upper end of the cirque (mm. 7.5), I heard a Cerulean Warbler, and got a few photos of a first fall male American Redstart. This is the first time I have ever seen or heard a Cerulean Warbler in September, and the extreme late date for this species here is September 14.
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
I heard another Hooded Warbler at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), and I hiked south to the mm. 12 sign post. There was quite a bit of avian activity there. Most of the birds were Red-eyed Vireos, but I got a quick look at a Tennessee Warbler, making it 6 warbler species for the morning.
Tennessee Warbler
Carolina Chickadee and Red-eyed Vireo