Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 8/15-18/2019

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

It's been very hot here in central Virginia, and most of the summer only avian species have already gone, so there's very few birds to see. Most of the fall migratory and winter species are still about a week or so away. So I decided to not see many birds up at cooler temperatures on the Blue Ridge Parkway, rather than not see birds where it was hotter :-) I made three trips up there on the 15th, 16th, and 18th, and saw a combined total of 25, possible a few more, avian species. I saw Cerulean Warblers at two locations the first of these days, as well as two Hooded Warblers on each visit to Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12).

Photo Unavailable
Hooded Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Hooded Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Barn Swallow

Photo Unavailable
Tree Swallow

Photo Unavailable
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Photo Unavailable
Carolina Wren

Photo Unavailable
Cedar Waxwing

Photo Unavailable
Chimney Swift

Photo Unavailable
Downy Woodpecker

Photo Unavailable
Red-bellied Woodpecker

Photo Unavailable
Red-eyed Vireo

Photo Unavailable
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Photo Unavailable
Eastern Wood-Pewee

Photo Unavailable
Unidentified avian species; probably an Eastern Wood-Pewee

The most interesting bird was a juvenile and recently fledged, American Goldfinch, perched and waiting for its parent at mm 7.5.

Photo Unavailable
Juvenile American Goldfinch

Photo Unavailable
Juvenile American Goldfinch

Photo Unavailable
Juvenile American Goldfinch

Photo Unavailable
Juvenile American Goldfinch

Photo Unavailable
Monarch

Photo Unavailable
Swallowtail

As I was leaving this last day, I saw a very young black bear. Photos are a bit blurry as I had to take them leaning out of my car window.

Photo Unavailable
Black bear

Photo Unavailable
Black bear

Photo Unavailable
Black bear


E-mail comments on this report

Return to blog page home