Walt Childs and I were on a mission to find a warbler species that neither of us had seen yet in 2019. Our primary target species was Canada Warbler that we had seen in multiple locations in previous years on Reddish Knob, along with a good mix of other warbler species there, and of course, always the chance to see Red Crossbills. Our secondary target species was Blue-winged Warbler, We planned to look for this species in McDowell, VA after birding on Reddish Knob. It was quite windy, and isolated thunderstorms were forcasted starting in mid-afternoon. On our way up Breiry Branch Road to the four road intersection on Reddish Knob, we heard American Redstarts, a Cerulean Warbler, a Hooded Warbler, Black-throated Green and Black-throated Blue Warblers, Ovenbirds, and Black and White Warblers, but didn't spend much time trying to locate them. We also heard the chattering song of a Worm-eating or Pine Warbler. The songs of both of these warblers species sound similar to me, as well as similar to Chipping Sparrows. All three of the species have been seen there by us on previous trips, but the only one that we actually saw this day was Chipping Sparrow, so I didn't include these two warblers species on our trip list.
We also saw several other avian species and some chipmunks. Some of the Indigo Buntings had a lot of white on them, and appear to be young males starting to get their adult plumage.
Indigo Buntings
Eastern Towhee
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk
Juvenile Broad-winged Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Chipmunk
When we got to the four road intersection, we saw one Red-Crossbill perched high on a tree, and it flew soon thereafter. Just a note - the fire road going up and away from the summit is now blocked to vehicular traffic, but foot traffic is allowed. When we were there last April 29, heavy road equipment had just arrived, and we asumed that work is now being done on that fire road.
Red-Crossbill
It was really starting to get dark with heavy cloud cover and gusty winds, but we headed up towards the summit. On the way up and back down, we heard and saw more warblers.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Just before the razorback road section near the summit, I thought that I heard a Canada Warbler, but it was a song variation that I did not know. We parked and got out of the car, and I got my Virginia warbler species # 27 for 2019 (and my New World warbler species # 31 for 2019).
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
A bit farther up the road, we got warbler species #10 for this trip. At one point, it was at the top of a tree, and holding on for dear life as strong winds whiplashed the treetop back and forth.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
We headed back down to the the four road intersection, and this time took CR 25 down the West Virginia side to CR 21. We stopped on the way down to look at a snake in the road. It was dead, but just to be sure, I poked it with a stick and it did not move. It didn't appear to be run over, but there seemed to be some sort of thorn in its side. We thought that it was a copperhead, but it doesn't look right to me. In one of my references, it looks more lake a glossy snake, but Reddish Knob would be far out of range for this species. If anyone recognizes the snake species from this photo, please let me know. [Update: a few people have told me that this is an Eastern Milksnake]
Snake
We took CR21 south and back into Virginia, where this road becomes Route 614. In some previous years, we have seen Blue-winged, Golden-winged, and Lawrence's hybrid Warblers along Route 614 (Cowpasture Road) past where a small bridge connects it with Route 616. But we looked for about 30 minutes, and didn't see any warblers there. We did hear two Kentucky Warblers there, but could not locate either of them, and ended the outing with 41 avian species when heavy rain started.
May 31, 2019I birded along the first 12 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway this morning. It was a bit breezy, but nothing like the past few days. I was looking for migrating warblers, but only saw/heard the six summer warbler residents: Cerulean, American Redstart, Hooded, Worm-eating. Black and white (heard only), and Ovenbird (heard only). At one point, I heard quite a disturbance, and I think that a Worm-eating Warbler was arguing with an American Redstart over a bug.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
American Redstarts
Worm-eating Warbler and American Redstart
Hooded Warbler
Cerulean Warbler