Walt Childs and I did a little birding this morning to look for warblers. We stopped near my house to take a look at a very large snapping turtle.
Snapping Turtle
Snapping Turtle
On our way up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, we took a short hike on the Rockfish Valley Trail where we saw 16 avian species, but no warblers. Of note were three White-eyed Vireos, and a first year male Blue Grosbeak along Reids Creek between the end of the downstream trail and the first wooden bridge. Blue Grosbeaks have nested in that area in previous years.
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
We entered the parkway at Reids Gap (mm 14), and only had time to stop at our favorite warbler sites. The first was at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm 12). There were Hooded and Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, Eastern Towhees, a Red-tailed Hawk, several Common Ravens, and Turkey Vultures.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler going after a meal
American Redstart
Red-tailed Hawk
Common Raven
Our next stop was at the large cirque between mm 7 and mm 8. There were more Cerulean Warblers, American Redstarts, and a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
American Redstart
American Redstart
We saw another Hooded Warbler at the mm 3 overlook, and heard Hooded Warblers and American Redstarts at the mm 2 Rockfish Valley Overlook.
Hooded Warbler