American Redstarts
Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warblers had been reported at Boston Knob (mm. 38.8) on the parkway earlier this week, and I hadn't seen either species yet in 2021. I met up with Tink Moyer at "The Priest" (mm. 17.6), and we headed south on the parkway from there. Along the way, we heard American Redstarts, Ovenbirds, and Black and White Warblers, but didn't stop until we got to Yankee Horse Ridge (mm. 34.4). There were several Blue-headed Vireos and a few American Redstarts. Two of the Redstarts were having an argument over territory. Note the orange on the sides of the back of the Redstart on the right in my photo.
American Redstarts
Blue-headed Vireo
When we got to Boston Knob, we heard Pine Warblers and Ovenbirds, but didn't spend the time looking for them. We headed back, and stopped at a stream with a small waterfall a short distance south of Yankee Horse Ridge. We had seen Blackburnian Warblers there in 2020. Sure enough, we found a Blackburnian Warbler in the same trees, as well as a Worm-eating Warbler. It's easy to see why Blackburnians have the nickname, "Firethroat."
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
We stopped at Blad Knob (mm. 22) and saw more Ovenbirds and a Black and White Warbler.
Ovenbird
Black and White Warbler
We heard a Hooded Warbler at 3 Ridges Overlook (mm. 13.1) and another one at Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 11.7). The Cerulean Warbler I had seen the day before at Hickory Springs Overlook was still there, giving us 8 warbler species for the day. We saw a pair of Ospreys flying to the north.
Cerulean Warbler
At this point, Tink headed home, and I continued north on the parkway and then on Route 610 between mm. 4 and mm. 2. I heard more Ovenbirds, American Redstarts, and Black and white Warblers. On 610, I heard another Cerulean Warbler at one of their usual nesting sites.
Old Trail; Crozet, VA; April 28This turned out to be a really interesting morning hike. I started off at the wetlands in Western Park, and soon got a Common Yellowthroat.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
I had planned to hike down towards the soccer field to see if Yellow Warblers had shown up yet, but heard one singing near the Common Yellowthroat, and got my 14th warbler species for 2021, and my 10th warbler species in less than 24 hours.
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow Warbler
I then headed over to the golf course pond, and got my Old Trail species #151 - a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron!
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
I continued past the pond on the trail and up along the golf course. On my return, I saw an Osprey circling over the pond, and another Osprey having a meal on a branch. It didn't want me taking photos, and took off with half a fish. I wonder if these two Ospreys were the same pair I had seen yesterday afternoon?
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
I then saw my first of season Eastern Kingbird. In the photo below, you can see just a bit of its orange crown patch.
Eastern Kingbird
I finished my hike on the trail along the southeast corner of Old Trail, and saw/heard a Pine Warbler, but it wouldn't stay put where I could get a photo.