Ridgeview Park is a good place to look for early migrating birds. Although most of the trees are still in leaf-off condition, the ground vegetation seems to green-up earlier than most of the other nearby areas. It was warm, windy, and mostly overcast when I arrived, and started to rain about an hour after I got there. But I ended up with 21 avian species, including a very early visitor.
Carolina Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Golden-crowned Kinglet
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Soon after I got there, I saw a Blue-headed Vireo. The Virginia "Goldbook" states a Virginia-wide arrival date of April 10 for this species, so I was surprised to seen one so early in the spring.
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo