It was a beautiful day to be birding, but I got a late start. My first stop was at the old tower on Route 610 near mm. 2 of the parkway. I had 8 avian species at that stop, including a female American Redstart and a Black-throated Green Warbler. The Black-throated Green Warbler was certainly a migrating bird, as I hadn't see this species there all summer.
Female American Redstart
Female American Redstart
First fall male/adult female Black-throated Green Warbler
First fall male/adult female Black-throated Green Warbler
I continued south on 610, and added 6 more avian species, including a first fall female Cerulean Warbler.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Indigo Bunting
Red-eyed Vireo
First fall female Cerulean Warbler
First fall female Cerulean Warbler
I got back onto the parkway at mm. 4, and headed south. It was fairly quiet. At Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), I heard a Hooded Warbler, but could not see it. I did see a few American Goldfinches.
American Goldfinch
American Goldfinches
Road crews were mowing the road shoulders and another vehicle had a large and loud blower going to blow the cut grass off of the road. The birds must have been spooked, so I turned around and got back onto Route 610 at mm. 4 of the parkway. There was quite a bit of avian activity at one of my favorite warbler stops on 610. There were Tufted Titmice, Carolina Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Eastern Wood-Pewees, and a first year Downy Woodpecker.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Downy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
And I got three male warbler species at that stop.
Male American Redstart
Male Cerulean Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
I ended the outing with 24 avian species.