Central Virginia 10/17/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

With overnight temperatures in the 30s, and fall warbler migration pretty much over, I had planned to do some birding here in Old Trail this morning. But before going out, I took a look at the BirdCast overnight radar, and there was heavy migration in the mountains and valleys of Virginia, down to middle Virginia latitudes, and only medium migration south of there. Raptors migrate mostly during the day so they can ride the thermals, but smaller birds, such as warblers, migrate mostly at night. Perhaps there were some late season warblers that had settled down for the night in the area. I went up to Route 610 parallel to the Blue Ridge Parkway. The parkway was already very busy, and cars were lined up all the way from the ranger pay station on Skyline Drive to I-64, and the leaves aren't even at peak color yet. I saw 20 avian species on Route 610, but not a single warbler.

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Swainson's Thrushes

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Blue-headed Vireo

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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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White-throated Sparrow

I then did some more birding back in Old Trail after that, and added 12 more avian species to my day list, including my first-of-season White-crowned Sparrow (1 adult and 1 juvenile), and my first-of-season Purple Finch (female).

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Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

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Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow

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Adult White-crowned Sparrow

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Purple Finch

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Palm Warbler

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Swamp Sparrow

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Blue-headed Vireo

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Juvenile Eastern Phoebe

There must be oak trees on the golf course, and Blue Jay nests farther to the south, as the golf course pond is always below a highway of Blue Jays carrying acorns.

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Blue Jay

I saw an American Goldfinch that looked a bit unusual, as it had two narrow white wing bars close together. I assume that it was just a result of molting and new feathers coming in. Ironically, I didn't see a House Finch today, although they have been coming to my feeder every day for the past week. I am sure that one will show up just after I post this report.

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American Goldfinch

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Angry Bird (Carolina Wren)


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