Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir; Crozet, VA 10/17/18

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

It was a beautiful morning to be out birding, and I decided to try my luck at the Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir. I didn't expect to see many warblers, as I thought that most of the autumnal warbler migration was pretty much over. I parked on Fairwinds Lane, and entered the trail there. The creek was about as full as I have ever seen it. A short distance down the trail, two wrens flew across. My first impression was Winter Wrens, but my view was of them was so short that I couldn't confirm that, so I logged them as the more common Carolina Wrens. Just before the turn towards the reservoir, I stopped when I saw a pair of Tennessee Warblers and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

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Tennessee Warblers

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Tennessee Warbler

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I made the turn to the reservoir, and soon noticed that someone had come through with a riding mower there. The good news is that the trail was wider for hiking. The bad news is that the mower removed most of the fallen leaves covering the trail, and it was really muddy. I stopped at the reservoir and saw Canada Geese, Mallards, a few Green-winged Teals, a Great Egret, a Belted Kingfisher, and a single Killdeer on the gravel bar.

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Great Egret

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Great Egret

Near the newly constructed blind, I saw my second warbler species of the morning - a Common Yellowthroat.

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Common Yellowthroat

I made the turn at the marshy area, and as I hiked toward the small wooden bridge, I spotted two more Tennessee Warblers. When I checked my photos this after, I actually had four of them in one photo.

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Tennessee Warblers

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Tennessee Warblers

When I got to the bridge, it really got interesting. First, a Blue-headed Vireo flew in. And then I saw my first-of-season Golden-crowned Kinglet.

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Blue-headed Vireo

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

Then I saw a bright yellow patch in the brush. It was a Nashville Warbler.

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

When I thought it couldn't get any better, a Magnolia Warbler flew in, followed by a Palm Warbler.

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Magnolia Warbler

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Magnolia Warbler

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Palm Warbler

I continued on, and then returned along the same trail. I saw several woodland species, but no more warblers; at least for now.

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Northern Flicker and American Robin

When I got to the Fairwinds exit, I decided to hike a bit on the adjoining Crozet Connector Trail. At first, I saw a few more woodland species.

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Northern Flicker

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White-breasted Nuthatch

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

I was getting ready to call it a day, when another Blue-headed Vireo flew in, along with a Tennessee Warbler and a Nashville Warbler. There may have been more than one of each of these warbler species, but I was too busy taking photos to count numbers. Both warbler species were foraging right along the trail, and didn't mind my taking lots of close-up photos.

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Blue-headed Vireo

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

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Nashville Warbler

I ended the morning with 34 avian species:

Great Egret
Canada Goose
Mallard
Green-winged Teal
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Cardinal
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
American Robin


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