Mint Springs Park trail map
It was supposed to be sunny and warm today, but it turned out to be chilly and completely overcast. Between the weather and a late start, I changed my plans and decided to do some birding closer to home here in Crozet. I first went to Mint Springs Park, and as I was leaving Old Trail, a Green Heron flew overhead. Mint Springs Park is a reliable site for American Redstarts, Hooded Warblers, Kentucky Warblers (once they get here for the summer), and occasional warbler rarities. I've seen at least 7 or 8 warbler species along the Fire Trail, including an Orange-crowned in April 2018, and others have seen Mourning Warblers there a few times. The map below shows part of the trail system, and I've added some colored lines to help with this report.
Mint Springs Park trail map
The Fire Trail is the place to look for warblers, but it's a bear to hike. The first 1/2 mile from the kiosk goes up 300 feet (30 stories) in elevation, and once you reach the level part, the choice is a long way around or returning back to the kiosk. The yellow lines indicate where I've seen Kentucky Warblers multiple times, including 8 of them the first time I went there. As soon as I got to the kiosk, I started hearing Hooded Warblers, and saw several of them (red lines), and American Redstarts all along the trails. The dense canopy and gray skies meant grainy photos.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstarts
As I hiked up the Fire Trail from the kiosk, I heard a Black-throated Blue Warbler and two Wood Thrushes where I show blue lines. Both of these species are my first of year species, but I didn't see them. When I finally got to the level part of the trail, I heard a couple of Worm-eating Warblers (orange lines), but didn't see them either - a warbler species I have already heard this year but haven't seen. I did not hear any Kentucky Warblers on the hike, so I assume they haven't arrived yet. I stopped on the way down to look for the Black-throated Blue Warbler, but didn't see or hear it. I then went over to the other end of the Fire Trail near the Mountain Orchard Trail. Saw another Hooded Warbler and more American Redstarts. I also heard an Ovenbird (another already heard but not seen this year warbler species), and heard another Black-throated Blue Warbler. It was starting to get a bit frustrating hearing species that I could not locate. The Black-throated Blue song then seemed to be coming from the Mountain Orchard Trail, so I hiked there without success. I was getting ready to leave, but decided to try that section of the Fire Trail once again, and this time got my 10th warbler species photo of 2020. My record is photographing 40 New World warbler species in a single calendar year (2019), but I don't think I will even get close to that this year with all the corona virus travel restrictions.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
It was a lot of work to get that Black-throated Blue, but worth it. I saw quite a few other avian species at Mint Springs Park, and had well over 20 species for the morning before I left.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at its nest
Carolina Wren
Eastern Phoebe
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-shouldered Hawk
I then drove to Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir, and by the time I fished in the early afternoon, I had logged 40 avian species.
Bald Eagle
Great Blue Heron
Pine Warbler
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Today's list:
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Mourning Dove
Blue Jay
American Crow
Barn Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Ovenbird
Blue-winged Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Wood Thrush
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch