Eastern Wood-Pewee
Once again, both the weather forecasters and I were proven wrong. A few days ago, I wrote in a report that it was unlikely that I would see any more migrating warbler species this spring, and would have to travel longer distances to summer breeding grounds for the warbler species I hadn't yet seen in 2020. It's near the end of the spring migration, and heavy rain was forcasted for today through the end of the week. But when I awoke this morning, the heavy rain was in southwestern Virginia, and we were supposed to just have clouds until late afternoon. So I headed out first to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro in the Shenadoah Valley. The winds were still coming in from the east, and I hoped that the Blue Ridge Mountains might keep the winds down on the west side. It was very chilly and breezy when I arrived at 9:30, and in 3 hours I logged 39 avian species there. Eastern Wood-Pewees seemed to be everywhere.
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewee
American Robin
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Gray Catbird
Carolina Chickadee taking a snooze
Chimney Swift
Red-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Female Scarlet Tanager
Barn, Northern Rough-winged, and Tree Swallows
I had started out in the wooded areas to the south and west of the soccer fields, and as I hiked along the river to the west of the bridge, I got my 23rd warbler species of 2020. It was a female Magnolia Warbler.
Female Magnolia Warbler
Female Magnolia Warbler
Female Magnolia Warbler
Female Magnolia Warbler
Soon after going past the bridge along that field, I saw a female and a first year male American Redstart.
Female American Redstart
First year male American Redstart
A litte farther down that path, I heard a Common Yellowthroat. I stopped and saw a flash of yellow in the brush, and got a quick and out-of-focus photo. When I looked at it in my camera viewfinder, I realized that I had warbler species #24 for 2020, and then I heard a warbler song that I had not heard since last summer - Canada Warbler.
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
Canada Warbler
There was more avian activity high up in the trees. I saw a flash of buff and chestnut, and thought Bay-breasted Warbler, which would be #25 for 2020, but it was such a short look at it that I couldn't count it. I continued my hike back to where I had started, and then decided to look for the possible Bay-breasted Warbler again. When I got to that spot I heard the song of a Blackpoll Warbler.
Male Blackpoll Warbler
Male Blackpoll Warbler
Male Blackpoll Warbler
Male Blackpoll Warbler
Male Blackpoll Warbler
And then I heard another Blackpoll Warbler behind me. It was a female.
Female Blackpoll Warbler
Female Blackpoll Warbler
Female Blackpoll Warbler
Female Blackpoll Warbler
Farther down along the river, I saw a male Northern Parula, and aanother Magnolia Warbler.
Male Northern Parula
Male Northern Parula
Male Northern Parula
Male Northern Parula
Male Northern Parula
Male Northern Parula
First spring male Magnolia Warbler
First spring male Magnolia Warbler
First spring male Magnolia Warbler
Well, six warbler species wasn't bad for the day, and it was starting to dizzle. I headed back east, and decided to try my luck up on Route 610 along the Blue Ridge Parkway. I hoped that the drizzle would stop, or that there would be enough leaf cover to keep me dry. I added 7 more avian species up there, as well as another female American Redstart. I saw a Cerulean Warbler, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and a Pileated Woodpecker, and heard Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds, Hooded Warblers, and a Black and White Warbler, giving me 46 avian species including 10 warbler species. The drizzle got heavier, and I headed for home.
Male Cerulean Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler