Central Virginia 5/13/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

This turned out to be a very good birding day, although not for the reason I thought it might be. It was supposed to be sunny and warm, with very mild wind, and I thought I might be able to pick up some migrating warbler species. However, it was fairly overcast most of the morning, and I think that the late arrival of better weather kept some of the migrating warblers from heading my way.

I went first to Route 610 near the Blue Ridge Parkway. I logged 23 or so avian species there, but only had the 7 summer breeding warbler species. I saw a few American Redstarts, Cerulean Warblers, Ovenbirds, got a quick look at a Worm-eating Warbler, and heard Hooded Warblers, Black and White Warblers, and Pine Warblers.

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American Redstarts

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Ovenbird

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Scarlet Tanager

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Red-eyed Vireo

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Gray-cheeked Thrush

I've gotten a lot of good photos of male Cerulean Warblers up on Route 610 and the parkway, but getting good photos of females of this species is a challenge. I think that once they lay eggs, they stay around the nest for most of the time. I saw a female Cerulean Warbler up there two days ago, assumed that it just arrived, and nesting hadn't begun yet. When I stopped at the same spot this morning, the same female Cerulean was foraging at my eye level, and didn't mind my taking photos.

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Female Cerulean Warbler

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Female Cerulean Warbler

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Female Cerulean Warbler

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Female Cerulean Warbler

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Female Cerulean Warbler

I then drove to Reids Gap at mm. 14 of the parkway. As the parkway is still closed from Rockfish Gap to Reids Gap, the 10 mile drive became a 20 miles drive as I had to drive back to I-64, exit at mm. 96 in the Shenandoah Valley, and drive on the west side of the Blue Ridge and up to Reids Gap. Once there, I hiked to the 3 Ridges Overlook, and heard 5 warbler species, but didn't see any of them: American Redstart, Cerulean, Hooded, Ovenbird, and Black and White. My plan was to drive east on Route 664 and try to get a photo of the Yellow-breasted Chat I had seen on the Rockfish Valley Trail last week. I hadn't gotten a photo of one yet this year. (I know that YB Chats were moved out of the warbler family a couple of years ago, but they're still on my warbler list). I was the birding activity manager of the RV Trail for more than 5 years, and even though avian activity has greatly decreased there because of habitat loss, I still know a few good places where certain species like to hang out. I was successful this time.

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Yellow-breasted Chat

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Yellow-breasted Chat

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Yellow-breasted Chat

That YB Chat appeared to be a female, as males have dark black bills during breeding season. I also picked up a White-eyed Vireo at the trail, also a breeding species there.

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White-eyed Vireo

I was about ready to leave for home, when I spotted a sparrow foraging on the trail path cut grass between the bog area and the first wooden bridge. I had to do a double-take, and get my mind to focus. It was a Clay-colored Sparrow. This species is rare in Virginia. I've only seen two before - one on West Virginia and one just north of Staunton, VA, although I did see and photograph a Clay-colored x Chipping Sparrow hybrid last winter near my home. I took lots of photos of this sparrow, and it only moved off the path a couple of times when other people walked by. I left after the second time it was disturbed.

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

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Clay-colored Sparrow

Well, that was neat!


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