Skyline Drive, VA 6/16/17

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

The weather today wasn't all that great: morning fog, heat, high humidity, and threat of late morning and afternoon thunderstorms. Walt Childs and I decided to try some morning birding on Skyline Drive where the temperature was a bit cooler, but the chances of fog were higher than at lower elevations. We stopped first at Sawmill Ridge Overlook where we heard two Paine Warblers singing, but couldn't coax either one of the pine trees for a photo. A couple of Chipping Sparrows and an Eastern Wood-Pewee were there as well.

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Eastern Wood-Pewee

We then chose to try our luck at Loft Mountain along Skyline Drive. The weather was cloudy, but clear when we headed up the mountain drive. At our first stop, a very cooperative Least Flycatcher posed for photos.

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Least Flycatcher

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Least Flycatcher

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Least Flycatcher

A short time later, we parked at the amphitheater parking lot, and as soon as we got out of the car, fog started rolling in. We did see and hear a few species there: Hooded Warbler (heard only), male and female American Redstart, Gray Catbirds, Eastern Towhees, Robins, Indigo Buntings, an Eastern Phoebe, and a quick look at a Chestnut-sided Warbler.

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American Redstart

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Chestnut-sided Warbler

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Gray Catbird

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Eastern Phoebe

The highlight of trip was there as well. As we hiked a short distance on the nearby trail, an American Woodcock flushed and flew into dense vegetation. Both of us got a good look at it, but no photos. And then the fog really took over, so we headed back. We made a quick stop at the Rip Rap Trail parking lot where we heard another Hooded Warbler, and got some good looks of a Black and White Warbler.

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Black and White Warbler


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