Adult male Cerulean Warbler
I haven't been up on Route 610 and the Blue Ridge Parkway for a couple of weeks, and wanted to check on warblers there. While I didn't expect to see any new warbler species, mid-June is a good time to start looking for juveniles and recently fledged warblers. But I also know that the dense foliage would make it tough to see them. It was a beautiful day to be out birding - sunny cloudless skies, low humidity, slight breeze, and temperatures in the 60s.
I started off at the Old Tower on Route 610. There was a family of five Cerulean Warblers there last summer, and it looks like they may returned. I saw an adult male, two first spring males, and a female. One of the first spring males had some white in its supercilium, and the other one still had some brown juvenile feathers. The female was the most interesting to watch, as it was active gatnering food.
Adult male Cerulean Warbler
First spring male Cerulean Warbler
First spring male Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
I saw/heard another four or five Cerulean Warblers farther down on Route 610 and on the parkway. There were American Redstarts all along the way. Males were out singing, and females were deep in the vegetation gathering food.
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
I always thought that American Redstarts had black eyes, but with good sunlight on its eyes, I could see that their eyes are dark brown.
Male American Redstart
There were Hooded Warblers in several places along this route.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
I heard/saw Ovenbirds as well, but wasn't able to get a really good photo of one today.
Ovenbird
I saw two Worm-eating Warblers, and heard a third one. The first one was at the bottom of the cirque (mm. 7.5), and it had an unusual decurved bill. Compare its bill with the Worm-eating Warbler's bill in the last photo in this sequence (along Route 610).
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
I heard one Black and White Warbler and two Pine Warblers, giving me seven warbler species for the morning. All seven of these warbler species are usual breeders along the first 14 miles of the parkway. I was hoping to pick up the Common Yellowthroat I had been hearing at Three Ridges Overlook, but crews were mowing the shoulders there.
I ended the outing with about 25 avian species. Near the old tower on 610, I heard the loud scream of a hawk, and it sounded like a juvenile Goshawk. I only got a quick look at a large hawk that had patterned underwings, but it was soon out of sight. I have heard that hawk scream there before, and had previously gotten quick looks of a large raptor there as well.
Female Eastern Towhee