Blue-headed Vireo and Pine Warbler
Tink Moyer and I headed up to Reddish Knob in the Allegheny Mountains to look for Red Crossbills and warblers. I addition to the Crossbills, my target birds were three warbler species that I had not yet photographed in 2022: Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, and Canada. I knew that tthere would be a good chance to see all three species at higher elevations, and there was a slight possibility to find Blue-winged, Mourning, and Bay-breasted Warblers. Tink also wanted to look for a Red-breasted Nuthatch. We agreed to not stop going up Briery Branch Road until just before the four road intersection unless we heard or saw a mixed flock of birds, as I didn't want to spend a lot of time trying to locate and photograph any of the 23 warbler species I had already photographed in 2022. Part way up the road we stopped. There were Hooded, Pine, and Black&White Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Blue-headed Vireos. We only heard but didn't see the Hooded or Black&White Warblers, but decided to stop there again on the way back down if we had time, and noted a large dead tree near the road there that had broken off fairly close to its base.
Blue-headed Vireo and Pine Warbler
Ovenbird
When we arrived at the four road intersection, the was a Red Crossbill perched in a small tree, and it was soon joined by two other Red Crossbills.
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbill
Red Crossbills
At this point, we decided to drive up Fire Road 85 a short distance towards Flagpole Knob to look for Blue-winged and Mourning Warblers, but didn't see any. We did see a few American Redstarts and Chestnut-sided Warblers, heard a Worm-eating Warbler, and got a quick look at a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers and a female Blackburnian Warbler. At that point I suspected that there should be male Blackburnian Warblers in the area.
First summer male American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Female Blackburnian Warbler
We turned around and then headed up FR85 towards the Reddish Knob summit. We stopped a short way up where I knew warblers liked to forage.
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Farther up the road, we saw more Chestnut-sided Warblers. It was obvious that there had been a lot of rain there during the past few days. The large potholes in the one lane road were like small swimming pools.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
When we got to the road intersection just before the summit, we got out and walked. I knew that this area was a good location for Canada Warblers, Black-throated Blue Warblers, and Black-throated Green Warblers. We were not disappointed!
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
We headed back down, and decided to try FR85 towards Flagpole Knob again. We saw a male Blackburnian Warbler foraging in a coniferous tree. We headed back down Briery Branch Road and stopped at the same location as we did on the way up. This time we saw one of two Hooded Warblers there, and a Red-breasted Nuthatch! We stopped at the small bridge just before the reservoir to look for Northern Parulas and Louisiana Waterthrushes, but the small creek was really fast moving, so we didn't see these species there, but heard more Hooded Warblers. We then made a quick stop at nearby Hone Quarry to look for Northern Parulas. We didn't see any, but heard at least two of them, giving us 30+ avian species, including 13 warbler species, for this day trip.
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Male Blackburnian Warbler
Ovenbird
Hooded Warbler
Red-breasted Nuthatch
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