The "Not So" Common Merganser

We saw two of these female mergansers on Little River on opposite ends on two separate occasions. They're very rare to see in the Smokies! Little River Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Grumpy Bird

A male Indigo Bunting gives us a look like "Take a picture, it'll last longer." Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Singing Chipping Sparrow

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

He Said, She Said

Two barn swallows appear to be carrying on a conversation. Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Summer Hummer

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mr. Bluebird

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Female Eastern Bluebird

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A Brown Thrasher

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A Chipping Sparrow

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Taking Flight

A barn swallow begins take off Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Yellow-Breasted Chat

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Tuffy

This beautiful bird so kindly struck a pose for us as an insect flew about his head. Probably looking for an afternoon snack! Male Tufted Titmouse Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

Common Merganser

Not so common, we discovered this female in Little River in the spring. According to the Park Service, this bird is very rare and usually seen in the Winter. You can read more here: https://www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/birds-checklist.htm Great Smoky Mountains National Park

It's A Squirrel Thing

While hiking Alum Cave Bluffs Trail, this tiny red squirrel came quickly down a tree and seemed rather curious of us. We guessed that it's probably "just a squirrel thing". ;-) Alum Cave Bluffs Great Smoky Mountains National Park

All Fluffed Out

Male Northern Cardinal Great Smoky Mountains

Hoo Are You?

Twin Creeks Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Rainy Day Hawk

A red-shouldered hawk in the distance on a rainy day in the Cove. Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

Fast Food

A male ruby-throated hummingbird feasts on touch-me-not nectar. Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

Hawkeye

Juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk Great Smoky Mountains

Dressed To Impress

A handsome male, ruby-throated hummingbird strikes a pose in the colorful ironweed. The light reflections appear like he has sequins. Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

Pretty Bird

An Eastern Phoebe strikes a pose. Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

Embrace The Wild

A young coyote stops momentarily in the fields of Cades Cove. Great Smoky Mountains

Eastern Meadowlark

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains

A Brown Thrasher (Vertical)

Cades Cove Great Smoky Mountains