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.
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
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.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
I hiked a bit at Secluded Farm, but it was fairly quiet there.
April 23It 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.
Louisiana Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
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.
American Redstart
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.
Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos
Wood Thrush
Wood Thrush
I heard several Ovenbirds, more American Resdtarts, and then a Cerulean Warbler! The earliest I have found one along the parkway.
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
I continued down Route 610, and stopped when I heard more warblers: Black and White and Pine!
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Pine Warbler
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.
Broad-winged Hawks
Broad-winged Hawks
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
At Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12), I saw more American Redstarts, and got my first Hooded Warbler of the year.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
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!