Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 10/15/2019

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

I went up to the parkway to look for late migrating warblers. I ended up with 17 avian species, plus 2 that I saw but could not identify, but only one warbler - a quick look (and heard the chink call of) a Hooded Warbler at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12).

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Blue-headed Vireo

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

The best bird of the outing was a Red-tailed Hawk perched for a few minutes at the cirque (mm. 7.5). I'm fairly sure that it was a scarce "northern race" Red-tailed Hawk. Click here to read a very good article on this race of Red-tailed Hawks.

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

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Red-tailed Hawk

I have seen a handful of these northern race Red-tailed Hawks every year since at least 2011. They tend to show up mid-autumn and spend the winter months here - a few in the Piedmont, but mostly in the mountains and valleys of Virginia.

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Red-tailed Hawk; Rockfish Valley Trail, September 8, 2011


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