Central Virginia 5/5/2022

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

I met up with Tink Moyer at the old tower on Route 610 at 9:30 this morning. It was overcast most of the day. We birded along Route 610 and the parkway between mm. 4 and mm. 8, but there were more birds on 610 than the parkway, so we returned to 610, and birded until noon. We saw/heard 8, possibly 9, warbler species there. Ovenbirds and Pine Warblers were heard only warbler species. As we we're nearing noon, I saw a pair of Broad-winged Hawks mating, but they flew before I could get any photos. At one point, we encountered a small mixed warbler flock that was foraging along with American Redstarts, Ovenbirds, and Cerulean, Hooded, and Black&White Warblers. I added two more warbler species to my 2022 photo list: Magnolia and Cape May. Most of the warblers were high up in the trees, and difficult to see, identify, and photograph against the bright gray sky.

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Male American Redstart

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Female American Redstart

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Male Black and White Warbler

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Male Black and White Warbler

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Male Cerulean Warbler

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Male 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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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Magnolia Warbler

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Male Magnolia Warbler

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Male Magnolia Warbler

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Male Cape May Warbler

While I was photographing the Magnolia Warbler, Tink was viewing another yellow colored warbler without any breast streaking. I was able to get one photo of it as it was flying away. Based on its yellow back, darker wings, and white outer tail feathers, the only warbler species that I think it could be is a Blue-winged Warbler, but without a better photo, I can't be sure.

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Unidentified warbler

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Worm-eating Warbler

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Worm-eating Warbler

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Worm-eating Warbler

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Female Black-throated Blue Warbler

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Female Black-throated Blue Warbler

Tink headed for home, and I decided to try Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. It was good to see that the downed trees from the EF-1 tornado had been cleared from the wooded area trails. As soon as I started hiking there, I got a quick look at a female Common Yellowthroat, and heard several more of them during my hike.

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Female Common Yellowthroat

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First year Male American Redstart

I got another new warbler species for my 2022 list.

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Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler

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Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler

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Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler

And then I got really lucky. A Northern Waterthrush popped up right in front of me , and I got my best-ever photos of this warbler species.

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

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Northern Waterthrush

I ended my hile today watching a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks circling over the park.

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Red-shouldered Hawk


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