Other than a few remaining breeding warbler species on the Blue Ridge Parkway, I've seen very few migrating warblers this month along the first 12 miles of the parkway. I decided to try again this morning. I took my usual route from the start of the parkway, and exited onto parallel Route 610 at mm. 2 through mm.4. I encountered a few small clusters of birds, including three warbler species: American Redstart, Chestnut-sided, and Worm-eating, as well as Red-eyed and Yellow-throated Vireos.
Female American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
My next stop was at the upper, south end of the large cirque (mm. 7.5), There were quite a few birds there.
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
I then drove to my other favorite warbler spot on the parkway - Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12). The area just to the north of the overlook was loaded with birds.
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
I was really happy to find a first fall female Prairie Warbler in the mix.
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
While I was photographing these species, one of the Hooded Warblers I have been seeing there for the past two weeks flew down, but I was too busy photographing other warblers, so I let it go without a photo. After the mixed flock departed, I heard two Hooded Warblers there, plus one Ovenbird, but the Hooded Warblers didn't want their photo taken at that point. Perhaps I offended them by not taking their photo earlier :-) What a morning! 10 warbler species, and 15 warbler species in the past two days.