Spotted Sandpiper
I did a short hike here in old Trail this morning. There was a Spotted Sandpiper at the golf course pond, and another Spotted Sandpiper along with a Solitary Sandpiper at the retention pond along Slabtown Branch Creek.
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Solitary and Spotted Sandpipers
It's about time for warblers to be showing up along the first 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Pine Warblers had already arrived a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, my two favorite warbler sites there are too far of a hike from any of the access points to the parkway, and the parkway is still closed from Rockfish Gap to Reids Gap. However, I still know a few hot spots that I could get to, and that worked out well this morning. Along Route 610, about even with mm. 3 of the parkway, I saw an American Redstart and got my first of year Cerulean and Hooded Warblers. They were all singing for mates.
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
Farther down Route 610, near mm. 4 of the parkway, I head a Pine Warbler singing but did not see it. I've photographed that warbler a few times in the past week or so at that location, so I didn't bother hunting for it. I returned to the intersection of Route 610 and mm. 2 of the parkway, and hiked to Rockfish Valley Overlook. All I got along the way were a few woodland species, and two more American Redstarts. I took a few photos of the Rockfish Valley where Alice and I lived for 10 years prior moving to Crozet (where we lived is not in the photo).
Eastern Towhee
Rockfish Valley
On my return hike, I had a quick fly-by of a Pileated Woodpecker.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
From there, I tried my luck at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. There were quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers there, but the rest of the birds I saw there today were woodland species, including a singing White-eyed Vireo.
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
When I got back to Old Trail, I hiked a bit more, and heard a Common Yellowthroat in the Western Park wetlands, making it six warbler species for the day. I've photographed that Common Yellowthroat several times, and moved on before seeing it.
Wood Duck
Now I just need the parkway to re-open!