Fox
Some days turn out better than others for birding. It rained on and off most of yesterday and through the night, and was cloudy most of today. One of the local birders braved the rain yesterday, and had 15 warbler species in Mint Springs Park. Most of the migrating warblers travel at night, and I hoped that they would stay put because of the rain, but I ended up with only five warbler species after birding in three counties.
I started off this morning on the Rockfish Valley Trail here in Nelson County. I ended up with 21 avian species, but only two Common Yellowthroats and one Palm Warbler. I spotted a fox on the trail soon after I got there. There was a large flock of female Red-winged Blackbirds in the trees.
Fox
Common Yellowthroat
Palm Warbler
Female and male Eastern Towhees
Gray Catbird
Female Red-winged Blackbirds
I went to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro (Augusta County) early afternoon, and although it was fairly "birdy," the only warblers I saw there were some Yellow-rumped and a single Black-throated Blue (FOS). I also saw three Chimney Swifts (FOS).
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Male Eastern Towhee
Male Eastern Towhee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Chimney Swift
I went to Mint Springs Park in Crozet (Albemarle County) mid-afternoon. There were quite a few Chipping Sparrows and American Goldfinches near the parking lot, but no warblers, so I hiked up the fire trail there to where it starts to level off, hiked about another half-mile along that section of the trail, and then returned rather than hiking the entire loop of the trail. The only warblers I saw were a few Yellow-rumped and a single American Redstart.
American Redstart
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-throated Sparrow
I did a quick hike here in Stoney Creek late in the afternoon, and saw only a few birds. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers seem to be everywhere I go this spring - many more than I have seen in previous years.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
I hiked seven to eight miles today, including the steep hike up the fire trail, and didn't have much to show for it. Oh well, tomorrow is another day!