Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Walt Childs and I headed west and north to look for migrating warblers. Our first stop was at Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg. This park can be boom or bust for finding warblers. I knew as soon as we got out of my car that it was going to be a bust, as I saw and heard multiple Blue Jays. I don't get up there very often, but every time I have been there when there are lots of Blue Jays, there aren't any warblers. This morning was no different - 10 avian species but no warblers. From there, we headed east to Skyline Drive and a few miles north of Route 33 to Pocosin Cabin. The trail along the cabin was loaded with birds, and we saw close to 25 avian species there.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Scarlet Tanager
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
But it was the warblers that stole the show. We saw 10 warbler species there, and I was able to photograph all of them except for a Black and White Warbler.
Female American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Female Hooded Warbler
Female Hooded Warbler
Female Hooded Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Ovenbird
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Well, that turned out a lot better than Hillandale Park. We continued south on Skyline Drive, and stopped at Loft Mountain. The path/trails near the amphitheater were very quiet, but I did get another Blackburnian Warbler there.
Blackburnian Warbler
Pine Warblers are fairly reliable at Sawmill Ridge Overlook, and we got our 11th warbler species of the day.
Pine Warbler