Waynesboro, VA 4/21/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Ridgeview Park (Waynesboro)

Severe storms with some light hail and strong winds moved through the area last night, and I was eager to see if there might be a migrating warbler fall-out here. I went over to Ridgeview Park this morning. It was sunny and chilly with some wind. I didn't see a single warbler there, and only 16 avian species, but there were a few neat birds to see. Almost as soon as I got there, I saw a Broad-winged Hawk munching on its breakfast.


Broad-winged Hawk


Broad-winged Hawk


Broad-winged Hawk


Broad-winged Hawk


Broad-winged Hawk


Broad-winged Hawk

Other birds were common woodland varieties. I did see a slender hawk flying quickly through the woods, and my first thought was a Cooper's. A few minutes later, I saw a high flying bird that was probably the same hawk, but it was travelling like a bullet in the strong upper winds, so perhaps it may have been a Merlin or Peregrine Falcon.


Northern Cardinal


Northern Cardinal eating its breakfast


Tufted Titmouse

I headed for home via Route 610 from the Rockfish Gap to where it meets the Blue Ridge Parkway near mm 4, and then I took the parkway to Reids Gap. All I saw along the way were a few American Robins, Eastern Towhees, and Chipping Sparrows. Vegetation at these higher elevations here really doesn't support good birding until the second week of May. I made a quick stop at the Rockfish Valley Trail. The only warbler I saw there was a single Yellow-rumped. I was able to get a few photos of the FOS Eastern Kingbird that I saw there yesterday.


Eastern Kingbird



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