Albemarle County, VA, 4/10/19

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

I had a mid-morning appointment in the eastern side of Charlottesville this morning, and decided to go looking for warblers in the southeastern part of the county afterwards. My first stop was at Warren Ferry, and I got there at 11:15. This has been a reliable site for Yellow-throated Warblers. I have seen this species in the same trees there in early April of 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017, but not in 2018 until I re-visited that site in June of that year. This defunct ferry landing site has become a popular launch area for canoes and kayaks, and I wonder if all the commotion has scared many of the warblers away. In addition to Yellow-throated seen in previous years, at Warren Ferry I have seen the following warbler species: Prothonotary, Yellow-rumped, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow, Palm, Black&White, and Northern Parula. I went to Warren Ferry this past March 29, and didn't see any warblers then, nor did I see any this morning. But I did see my First Of Year Blue-gray Gnatcatcher there, as well as a Zebra Swallowtail.

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Zebra Swallowtail

After searching the Warren Ferry area for about 30 minutes, I headed north on the James River Road to Totier Creek Park. On the lake side, I saw more Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, a few woodland species, and my first warbler of the day: Yellow-rumped.

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Downy Woodpecker

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Turtles

I went over to the other side of the lake, and past the dam, where I had heard two Louisiana Waterthrushes on March 29, but could not see them on that visit. This morning, one of them flew in close to where I was looking. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk flew overhead.

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Carolina Chickadee

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Red-tailed Hawk

I returned to the James River Road. There's a pine forest right where the road from the park hits James River Road, and continues a bit toward Scottsville. I heard a few Pine Warblers, and got photos of my third warbler species of the day.

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

I continued north on Route 20 and stopped at Secluded Farm off of Route 53. I had only been there a couple of times in the past, and it looks like a good site for warblers. I just wish that there were more parking spaces. I saw another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a few other woodland species, and another Pine Warbler.

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Pine Warbler

Well, three warblers species in early April is not a bad outing here, but I sure would have liked to have seen a Yellow-throated!


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