Golden-winged Warbler
Walt Childs and I headed up to Highland County to look for two rare warbler species: Golden-winged Warbler in the Blue Grass Valley, and Mourning Warbler on Paddy Knob. Walt met me at my house in Crozet, and we got an early start, leaving at 6:45 a.m. We decided to go to the Blue Grass Valley first, arrived there at 8:45, and before 9:15, had out first target bird along Wimer Mountain Road. A male Golden-winged Warbler was foraging with a male and a female Chestnut-sided Warbler, and we also heard two other warbler species: American Redstart and Common Yellowthroat, but didn't bother to search for these two species. Thunderstorms were forecasted for mid-afternoon, and we wanted to focus on the target species.
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler
Female Chestnut-sided Warbler
Female Chestnut-sided Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
We arrived at Paddy Knob and heard several warbler species as we drove up to the usual areas where Mourning Warblers might be found. We decided to look for the other warbler species on the way back down if we had time. We searched quite a while for Mourning Warblers, but saw quite a few Chestnut-sided Warblers and a single Black-throated Green Warbler, in addition to several non-warbler species.
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
Male Black-throated Green Warbler
And then we got lucky.
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Mourning Warbler
On the way down, we heard/saw the following warbler species: Cerulean, Black-throated Blue, American Redstart, Ovenbird, and Worm-eating, giving us 10 warbler species for the day. Dark clouds started moving in, and around 2 p.m., the skies opened up, and we had lightning, thunder, and heavy rain. But it was a great trip!