Common Yellowthroat
It was another hot and sticky day. I got an unusual early start (for me), and wanted to take advantage of the early morning temperatures, and got to Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir at 8:30. As it turns out, I got there about 20 to 30 minutes too early! I parked at the end of Fairwinds Lane, and a Common Yellowthroat was singing from a nearby tree.
Common Yellowthroat
I hiked along the creek, and when I made the turn to hike the trail to the reservoir, I saw that the grass on that trail was almost knee height. This was not good. The grass was wet from last night's rain, and even worse, the tall grass was a good place for ticks. I was glad that I had remembered to spray my pants legs with DEET before hiking. The grass on the trail was that height until the shady area just before the gravel bar area in the reservoir. When I got to the good location for viewing the gravel bar, the vegetation was really thick, and I thought that in about two weeks, there wouldn't be any view at all. I did see some Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers, and by the time I had reached the marshy area and started to head back, I was up to 23 avian species for the morning.
Solitary Sandpiper
Northern Cardinal
As I hiked back, I thought that I should contact the person I know who is a volunteer for the Crozet Trail Crew, and ask him about the tall grass on the trail. As I got to the area where the tall grass had ended near the gravel bar, I saw that the grass had just been mowed! As I hiked farther down the trail, I met up with my friend on the Crozet Trail Crew. He and another guy were mowing the tall grass. Had I gotten there 20 to 30 minutes later, I wouldn't have had to hike through that stuff!
It was 9:45, and I wanted to do some more birding, but didn't want to go anywhere so hot, so I decided to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway where the higher elevations meant cooler temperatures. However, there's a lot of traffic up there on Fridays, especially loud motorcycles on a sunny day. I thought that I would go straight to my two favorite birding locations there, and try to get some birding in before the Friday afternoon traffic. I saw a few more birds on the way there, and by the time I reached the parkway, I was up to 27 species for the morning.
As I drove to the cirque (near mm. 7.5), I heard Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbirds, and American Redstarts, but didn't bother to stop and look for them, as they have been all along the first 12 miles of the parkway. When I got to the higher, south end of the cirque, I parked just off the road, and as soon as I got out of my car, a Hooded Warbler flew to me and perched right next to where I was standing!
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
There was a lot of avian activity in the trees there, and it was difficult to know where to look first. I head Cerulean Warblers and American Redstarts, but some other birds caught my attention. One of them was a Cape May Warbler, and then I saw a Yellow-throated Vireo, a Scarlet Tanager, a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and an Indigo Bunting.
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
And then, one of the Cerulean Warblers dropped down closer to my eye level.
Cerulean Warbler
A female Eastern Towhee was collecting nesting materials in the grassy areas.
Eastern Towhee
Well, that was a good start for the parkway! I then drove to Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12). I had been there yesterday, and got some photos of a male American Redstart, but didn't post them to the local list servers, so I have included them here.
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
Today, I saw a first year male American Redstart, a Blue-headed Vireo, and another Indigo Bunting.
American Redstart
American Redstart
Blue-headed Vireo
Indigo Bunting
Cerulean Warblers nest near this overlook, as well as elsewhere along the parkway. I have been at this overlook so many times over the past 12 years, that it seems like the Cerulean Warblers know me, or at least, know not to be afraid of me. One of them flew down near me, and posed for lots of photos, and I have posted a few of them here.
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Well, the traffic was on the increase, so I headed back. This time, I drove along Route 610 between mm. 4 and mm. 2 of the parkway, and added my 7th warbler species and 3rd vireo species of the day.
Black and White Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
I ended the outing with 43 avian species and a few good photos.