Red-winged Blackbird
With all the high temperatures and humidity, severe thunderstorms, and off and on Canadian wildfire smoke, I haven't done a lot of birding during this reporting period. I did four short hikes here in Old Trail, and three visits to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Old Trail; Crozet, VAOther than some interesting Barn Swallows, hikes here were not that interesting.
Red-winged Blackbird
Why did the Starlings cross the road? :-)
Is there enough for two?
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Blue Corporal Dragonfly
Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillar
Deer
On July 9, I saw a Barn Swallow perched in a tree by the golf course pond. It had interestng white feathers on its back, and I wasn't sure if some of its feathers were leucistic, or if some feathers were just out of place.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
On July 13, there were different Barn Swallows in the same tree. The breast markings on one of the adult males seemed a little unusual, but I have seen similar looking Barn Swallows in previous years.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
On July 21, there were four Barn Swallows in the same tree. One of them had identical white feathers to the those of the Barn Swallow I saw on July 9, so leucistic feathers were confirmed.
Barn Swallows
Barn Swallows
The other two Barn Swallows were also interesting. The one at the lower left seemed to have a bit of white in its forehead, suggesting Cliff Swallow, and there was at least one white stripe on its back. Two white back stripes like this one are on Cliff Swallows, and the stripes are absent on Barn Swallows.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
The Barn Swallow at the upper right appears to have a white forehead, but its tail looks too long for a Cliff Swallow.
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallows are known to rarely hybridize with Cliff Swallows. I don't know if these swallows are hybrids or just variant Barn Swallows.
Blue Ridge Parkway & Route 610, VAThis is the time of year when there are lots of juvenile warblers up on Route 610 and the first 14 miles of the parkway. But on July 12th and 18th, I saw very few birds at all. The American Redstart nest just past mm. 12 was gone. I did see/hear a few American Redstarts, Hooded Warblers, and Cerulean Warblers.
July 12
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Male Hooded Warbler
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
First year male Cerulean Warbler
First year male Cerulean Warbler
First year male Cerulean Warbler
First year male Cerulean Warbler
First year male Cerulean Warbler
First year female Hooded Warbler
First year female Hooded Warbler
First year male Hooded Warbler
First year male Hooded Warbler
First year male Hooded Warbler
Buck Moth caterpillar
On the first 14 miles of the parkway, I saw only a male and female American Redstarts.
Male American Redstart
Male American Redstart
Female American Redstart
Female American Redstart
Female American Redstart
Female American Redstart
So I decided to go farther south on the parkway. I found a Hooded Warbler and an Ovenbird along the Bald Mountain trail, but no other warblers, or many birds at all, down past Yankee Horse Ridge trail all the way to Irish Gap. I don't know if it has been the severe storms or widlfire smoke, or perhaps the vegetation is too dense for birding, but this has been an unusual summer for birding on the parkway.
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler