Central Virginia, 4/22-23/19

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

April 22

I wanted to try again to find a Yellow-throated Warbler at Warren Ferry, and hoped that one would be there, along with other warblers such as Prothonotary. I didn't see or hear any Yellow-throated Warblers there, but a Prothonotary Warbler was singing its head off, making it very easy to locate. I also heard a Common Yellowthroat, but couldn't locate it for sure, although I think that I saw it fly from a branch down into dense vegetation.

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Prothonotary Warbler

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

I stopped off at Totier Creek Park to look for warblers, but was unsuccessful. However, I did pick up a Pine Warbler along James River Road near the park.

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

I hiked a bit at Secluded Farm, but it was fairly quiet there.

April 23

It was sunny and warm today. I usually wait until the first weeek of May to try my luck up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, but with temperatures forecasted for the 80s, I wanted to try cooler elevations. At least a quick look, and then perhaps Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. I did make it to Ridgeview Park by noon, but just for a quick hike there, as the parkway was quite remarkable this morning. I had barely made it on to the parkway when I heard a warbler and stopped. It was a Louisiana Waterthrush. I've been looking for warblers along the first 14 miles of the parkway for 12 years, and I think that this was the first Waterthrush I have ever seen at that high of an elevation.

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

I stopped at the Rockfish Gap Overlook (mm. 2), and got my first American Redstart of the year. A Scarlet Tanager flew overhead.

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American Redstart

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Scarlet Tanager

Just past the overlook, I got onto Route 610 that runs parallel to the parkway for a couple of miles. Now the fun really began. There were quite a few woodland birds. I saw both Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos, and was surprised to hear Wood Thrushes so early in the year.

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Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos

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Wood Thrush

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Wood Thrush

I heard several Ovenbirds, more American Resdtarts, and then a Cerulean Warbler! The earliest I have found one along the parkway.

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Ovenbird

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Ovenbird

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Cerulean Warbler

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Cerulean Warbler

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Cerulean Warbler

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Cerulean Warbler

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Cerulean Warbler

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Cerulean Warbler

I continued down Route 610, and stopped when I heard more warblers: Black and White and Pine!

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Black and White Warbler

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Black and White Warbler

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Black and White Warbler

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Black and White Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

I got back onto the parkway near mm. 4, and continued up to the cirque near mm. 7.5. I heard more Ovenbirds, and saw three Broad-winged Hawks circling above me.

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Broad-winged Hawks

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Broad-winged Hawks

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Broad-winged Hawk

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Broad-winged Hawk

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Broad-winged Hawk

At Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), I saw more American Redstarts, and got my first Hooded Warbler of the year.

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Hooded Warbler

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Hooded Warbler

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Hooded Warbler

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Hooded Warbler

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Hooded Warbler

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Hooded Warbler

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American Redstart

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American Redstart

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American Redstart

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American Redstart

I heard another Hooded Warbler and saw another Broad-winged Hawk at 3 Ridges Overlook (mm. 13), and heard another Louisiana Waterthrush at Love Gap (mm. 16). I turned around, did a little more birding along the parkway and Route 610, and did a short hike at Ridgeview Park. It was quite a morning!


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