Brisk Day in the Mountains

We got up at 5:30 this morning and headed for SNP. Weather forecasts called for wind here, and partly cloudy there; but about halfway, we ran into rain. It stopped by the time we got to Limberlost, but was cool, damp, very windy - and dark! We covered our favorite part of the trail without seeing or hearing anything except juncos, towhees, and a catbird. On the way back, we encountered some very welcome little travelers. The first was some sort of warbler with a lot of yellow on his face - not one I remember seeing before, and he flew right in front of me - for a nanosecond - then off into the brush, not to be seen again!

Then we saw ruby-crowned kinglets, hovering, flitting, and feasting. They are so tiny and beautiful - we didn't see a single "ruby crown!"

The warblers are so confusing, especially in the fall. I think this is an immature magnolia warbler - it has the white eyering, 2 white wingbars, and the white band on the tail. It was beautiful.

It was also a little more cooperative with the photographer!

Another guess - All I can figure is that this is female black-throated blue warbler. It has the white line over the eye and white under the eye, and the little white spot on the wing. It was definitely the right colors.

" Chip-chip-chip-chip-chip"

Right after we got home, this guy came to the feeder...it's the first red-breasted nuthatch I've seen around here!

He looks like he's smiling. I wasn't! I can't even believe I was on my belly, eye to eye with him. Well, he was about as big around as my thumb, and maybe 18" long. And, of course, I'm very brave. NOT!