Cerulean Warbler
The rain forecasted for this morning held off until later today, so I headed up to Route 610 parallel to the first four miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was sunny when I left Old Trail here in Crozet, but overcast along the Blue Ridge only 8 miles to the west. My first stop on Route 610 was near mm. 3 of the parkway, where I had seen Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and American Redstart two days ago. All three species were still there.
Cerulean Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
American Redstart
But at the same site, I also got my first of year photo of a high and distant Worm-eating Warbler, a species I have been hearing for the past week but had not seen.
Worm-eating Warbler
A bit farther down Route 610, I picked up two more first of year photos of warbler species I have been hearing but had not seen yet this year.
Ovenbird
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
There were more American Redstarts and Pine Warblers, giving me 7 warbler species along Route 610 this morning.
American Redstart
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
All 7 of these warbler species nest along those 2 miles of Route 610, and the good news is that all of them were in about the same locations where I have been seeing them for multiple years. The bad news is that even though the Blue Ridge Parkway is still closed for the first 13+ miles, and I had hoped to make regular day trips to Route 610, a private road is being put in on the east side of the parkway, and large dump trucks will be going back and forth along Route 610 and crossing the parkway at mm. 4, 9 a.m.to 5 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, for at least another month. Sigh . . .
I decided on my way back to Old Trail to look for the Common Yellowthroat I have seen and/or heard in the wetlands area of Western Park, to give me 8 warbler species for the day. I did hear it singing making #8 for the day, but on my way to look for it, I got #9 - a Yellow Warbler. This species has been nesting in the wetlands as well for the past few years. I didn't see the Common Yellowthroat, but at that point was happy with my warbler search for the day.
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler