Cerulean Warbler
I decided to try my luck on the parkway and Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 again this morning. For once in quite a while, there was a mix of sun and clouds, and it wasn't very windy. And with temperatures in the low to mid 70s, it was delightful up there. When I arrived around 9:30, there was quite a bit of avian activity. My first stop was at the old tower on 610, where I saw six avian species, including four warbler species: female American Redstart, male Cerulean Warbler, Male Hooded Warbler, and Ovenbird.
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
I continued down 610, and saw a first summer male American Redstart, and then a Pine Warbler.
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
First summer male American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
I got back onto the parkway at mm. 4, and stopped at a few locations all the way to 3 Ridges Overlook (mm. 13.5). I heard a few more Cerulean Warblers, Hooded Warblers, and Ovenbirds. I heard Black and White Warblers at two locations, but did not see them. When I was at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), I saw a hawk flushed from the trees by a small yellow bird (either and American Goldfinch or a Hooded Warbler), but it was so quick that that I couldn't be sure of the ID for either bird. I only got a quick look at the back of the hawk, and it looked to be either a Red-shouldered or Broad-winged. I did see a Broad-winged Hawk at 3 Ridges Overlook, and another quick look at a hawk on my return at Hickory Springs Overlook, and assume that all three hawk sightings were the same bird.
Broad-winged Hawk
On my return stop at Hickory Springs Overlook, I got a few shots in quick succession of a male Indigo Bunting and a male American Redstart. They were next to each other but at different focus distances from me. I focused one shot on the bunting and the other on the redstart. I usually don't do this, but the photo below is a compositie of two different photos.
Indigo Bunting and American Redstart
Indigo Bunting
I thought that I heard Worm-eating Warblers five or six times, but three of the times I was able to locate a Chipping Sparrow that sounded like a Worm-eating Warbler, so I assume all of them were Chipping Sparrows, and the breeding Worm-eating Warblers that I have seen there the past two months were not singing at all.
Chipping Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Carolina Chickadee
Scarlet Tanager
Near the end of my outing, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk flying away for my 26th avian species of the day.
Red-tailed Hawk
I saw a weird-looking fly (moth?) walking on the parkway, and it kept moving its antennas back and forth as it walked. I am trying to determine the species.
Fly (moth?)