Central Virginia 4/13-21/2023
All photos are © Marshall Faintich
Most of the migrating and summer resident warbler species start showing up in my local area the last week of April, and a few of the late migrating species come through during mid to late May. Usually, it is only Louisiana Waterthrushes and Pine Warblers that show up earlier, and wintering Yellow-rumped Warblers may still be around through mid-May. But with the warm spring temperatures, I thought some may start showing up a bit earlier. Prior to this reporting period, I had already seen Pine Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, and Louisiana Waterthrushes here in Old Trail (including Albemarle County Western Park), and Pine Warblers up on Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. My primary birding sites on the Blue Ridge Parkway start at mm. 0 (Rockfish Gap) and end at mm. 14 (Reids Gap).
Local area map
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April 13; Route 610
I knew the chances of seeing any warblers would be slim to none this early, but I knew that Pine Warblers would be between the parkway and Route 610 close to mm. 4, and I saw at least three of them.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
April 14; Ridgeview Park; Waynesboro
Ridgeview Park tends to "green-up" earlier than the surrounding areas, and the trails through the wooded area can be productive for finding warblers. The Virginia bluebells along the river were in full bloom, but the only warbler I saw was a Yellow-rumped.
Virginia bluebells
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Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow bathing along the river
Northern Cardinal
American Robin
Red-shouldered Hawk
April 17; Ridgeview Park; Waynesboro
I went back to Ridgeview Park, but only saw a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and other woodland species.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
April 19; Blue Ridge Parkway and Route 610
Temperatures skyrockected to the upper 80s and low 90s, and the warbler alarm bells went off. I saw three warbler species: American Redstart, Cerulean, and Pine, and heard three other warbler species: Ovenbird, Worm-eating, and Black and White. Most of the warblers were males perched high up in the trees and singing for mates. In a couple of weeks after the females arrive, warblers will be closer to the ground foraging not only for food, but also for nesting materials.
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Pine Warbler
At the upper, south end of the cirque (near mm. 7-1/2), I saw a male American Redstart with white eye arcs. I saw an American Redstart last April (2022) in the same location with the same features. I don't think that this bird is a hybrid, and while the white eye arcs might be just an unusual variation, it could be an immature male that still hasn't gotten all of its black feathers, although the rest of its adult plumage looked complete.
American Redstart
American Redstart
Red-tailed Hawk
Blue-headed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
April 20; Blue Ridge Parkway and Route 610
I met up with Tink Moyer, and we birded the same locations as I had done yesterday. We saw and heard eight warbler species, but only heard and did not stop to look for Pine Warblers, only heard Worm-eating and Ovenbirds, and today saw at least two Black and White Warblers, a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, and at least two Hooded Warblers.
American Redstart
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Eastern Towhee
Osprey
We saw a very dark colored Broad-winged Hawk. Although it was not all dark like a dark morph, I wonder if it was an intergrade between a dark morph and a light morph?
Broad-winged Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
April 21; Mint Springs Park; Crozet
Kentucky Warblers usually show up early May along the very steep Fire Trail. Several other warbler species spend the summer there. I hiked about 1/3 the way up and decided to hike back down as I didn't hear any Kentucky Warblers singing. I did hear one Hooded Warbler, and saw one Lousiana Watherthrush and two American Redstarts.
Lousiana Watherthrush
Lousiana Watherthrush
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
April 21; Western Park; Old Trail; Crozet
Once I returned to Old Trail, I stopped to see if any Yellow Warblers had arrived in Western Park. We have them most years starting in early May. I didn't see or hear any, but did find one of the Common Yellowthroats.
Common Yellowthroat