Oven in the woods

Yesterday when I was out on the Cosby Nature Trail with my friend, Renee, we startled an Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus.  She suddenly jumped up out of nowhere and started a broken-wing display.  I have only really seen this behavior in shorebirds, but I have heard of other ground-nesters doing it too.  Dramatically feigning an injury, she tried to lead us away from her nest.  We didn't want to disturb her for long, but I had always wanted to see an ovenbird's nest!   Before long we were lucky enough to discover her nest and her babies inside! 

Ever wonder why these warblers are called "oven" birds? Take a look at their oven-shaped nests! This is the first "oven" I have ever seen, aside from in books. It made my day!

Roan Mountain

So it has been a while since I have posted to my blog.  I was having some computer problems, but I just got a new computer so I am up and running again!  Here are some photos from a trip my husband, Kevin and I took to Roan Mountains a few weeks ago.  We stayed at the state park and did a couple day hikes on the AT in the National Forest...when it wasn't raining too hard...

We brought our two dogs Wesley and Merlin.  They enjoyed hiking up to Jane Bald on the second day.   

As we were hiking, the fog was rolling in and we got caught in the rain on the way out.

We were really excited to find Alder Flycatchers, Empidonax alnorum,  on Jane Bald, Roan Mountain, and at Carver's Gap.  I believe this is the most southerly nesting population and the only one in Tennessee. 

Other cool birds we saw included:

Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra

Canada Warbler, Wilsonia canadensis

Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica.  

The Rhododendrons for which Roan Mountain is famous were not yet in bloom up top, but there were a few starting to bloom at Carver's Gap.  These are Catawba Rhododendrons, Rhodendron catawbiense, which are usually found at high elevations.  The white rhododendrons that are in bloom at low elevations in Great Smoky Mountains National Park right now are Rosebay Rhododendrons, Rhododendron maximum.