Rockfish Valley 4/29/13

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Yesterday was a dreary drizzle and rain day, but the forecast for today was for clearing skies. I added a layer of waterproofing wax to my hiking boots, and got out my Gortex leggings as I knew the trail would be wet.

This morning there was complete cloud cover with areas of fog, but at least it wasn't raining. The RV Trail was only moderately "birdy," but I did have a good hike there and logged 31 species. I heard Common Yellowthroats and an American Redstart, and got some photos of a Blue-winged Warbler. The BW Warbler showed a hint of a dark auricular patch, suggesting that it might be a Lawrence's back-crossed with a Blue-winged, but not enough for me to identify it as anything other than a Blue-winged. The BW Warbler was in the same area along Reids Creek where I saw a Blue-winged and a Lawrence's last September.

Other highlights included a flock of Cedar Waxwings (FOY for the trail), as well as a few FOY Catbirds, and a Blue-headed Vireo.


Cedar Waxwing


Blue-headed Vireo


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler


Blue-winged Warbler



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