This has been a quiet fall migration season so far. Altough there have been a few small flocks of mixed warbler species, it seems like there are far fewer birds coming through the area than in previous years. I got an e-mail from one of my birding pals who is spending some time up in Maine, and he reports the same situation there.
Walt Childs and I started out at the Rockfish Valley Trail this morning. We had about 15 avian species, but not many birds, and not a single warbler. Best bird there was a summer resident White-eyed Vireo.
Our next stop was at the Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12) on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We heard a Yellow-throated Vireo high up in one of the trees, but could not locate it. A male Black-throated Blue Warbler made a quick appearance, and a pair of Tennessee Warblers posed for a few photos.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warblers
Tennessee Warblers
Tennessee Warblers
We made a quick stop at the cirque between mm. 7 and mm. 8, and there were a few Cape May Warblers there.
Cape May Warbler
We made a quick stop at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. It was loaded with birders - the Farmville, Virginia Bird Club had travel there. There were lots of Broad-winged Hawks the short time we stayed there, but almost all of them were in very distant kettles. A couple of them came within naked-eye range, and three American Kestrels made a close approach. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird came to the Hawk Watch feeder.
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
American Kestrel
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Another cold front is supposed to come through the area this weekend. I hope that it brings a lot more warblers with it.