Common Raven and Red-tailed Hawk
It was cloudy and windy, and there were a few scattered light rain showers, but I wanted to take advantage of the mid-60s temperature and check out some of my local area birding sites. I went first to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The first 14 miles really won't have enough vegetation to support good birding for about another month, but I wanted to look for migrating raptors, owls, and American Woodcocks before the vegetation started to block views into the woods. I stopped at the Humpback Rocks parking lot where Woodcocks do mating displays after sunset, and hoped that I might see one in that area during daylight. National Park Service staff were working on the trail from Humback Rocks down to the Pioneer Farm, and it was closed off. I asked one of the workers if he had seen any woodcocks, and was told that he had seen a few of them walking around just before lunch time a couple of days ago. I hiked around there for a while, but only heard a few Eastern Towhees. By the time I reach mm. 13, I had logged only 6 avian species on the parkway, and they were few and far between. I stopped when I saw two birds doing aerial combat. A Common Raven was chasing a Red-tailed Hawk out of its territory. After the hawk left, the Raven flew back close to where I was standing to keep an eye out for other avian trespassers.
Common Raven and Red-tailed Hawk
Common Raven and Red-tailed Hawk
Common Raven and Red-tailed Hawk
Common Raven
I exited the parkway at Reids Gap (mm. 14), and drove to Sherando Lake, where I didn't see a single bird. I left there and drove to the Coal Road. Along the way on Mt. Torry Road, I heard a Louisiana Woodthrush singing along the creek, but there wasn't a good place to stop and look for it, so I continued on. I drove a bit on the Coal Road, but that was also very quiet. On my way out, I did hear and see a Pine Warbler.
Pine Warbler
I continued on to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. The wooded area in that park always amazes me as to how early in the spring it turns green with vegetation. The trees were still bare, but the ground vegetation was filling in nicely, and by the time I left the park, my day's trip list was up to 25 avian species, including my third warbler of the day - Yellow-rumped.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pileated Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
I finished birding today with a short hike here in Old Trail (Crozet), where I added 6 more avian species to my day list, including my Old Trail species # 125 - Wood Duck.
Wood Duck
Field Sparrow
I'm looking forward to the next couple of months. Early warblers such as Yellow-throated should start arriving at Warren Ferry within a week, and then late April and May should bring a lot more warblers to the area.