American Redstart
The first 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway (and parallel Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4) are my favorite places to look for warblers. 7 warblers species breed along this stretch, and during the past decade including spring and autumn migration, I have photograped 27 warbler species there.
It was hot and muggy again, so I decided to try my luck up on the parkway. I usually start off on Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 of the parkway, but the areas where there have been warblers recently are in a lot of shadows from the dense tree cover the first half of the morning, so I stayed on the parkway and planned on birding along Route 610 on my way back. My first stop was at the Shenandoah Valley Overlook (mm. 2.9). This stop is close to where I had been seeing warblers on 610, and at this time of the day, I had the sun at my back. I heard Ovenbirds, got quick looks a male Cerulean Warbler and a male Hooded Warbler, and saw a few American Redstarts.
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart
My next stop was at the north, lower end of the cirque (mm. 7.5), where I had been seeing Ovenbirds, Black and White Warblers, and Worm-eating Warblers this year. I heard more Ovenbirds, and saw the other two warbler species. On some stops there this year, I have also seen Cerulean and Black-throated Blue Warblers.
Black and White Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
I heard Cerulean Warblers up at the south end of the cirque, and then continued on to Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 11.7), where I heard another Cerulean Warbler and another Hooded Warbler, but did not see them. I stopped at Three Ridges Overlook (mm. 13.1), and got a few photos of a female Hooded Warbler that had quite a bit of black on it.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
I turned around and made my way back to Route 610 at mm. 4 of the parkway. Soon after getting on 610, I heard a Pine Warbler in its usual location in some of the pine trees, but didn't see it. Farther down Route 610, I heard more Redstarts, two more Cerulean Warblers, and got quick looks at two more male Hooded Warblers. I stopped at the location down the hill from the Shenandoah Valley Overlook on the parkway. Two Worm-eating Warblers were flitting about.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
And I saw my second female Hooded Warbler of the morning. This one looked like a first summer female.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
Seven warbler species makes for a good outing, but I am eagerly awaiting autumn migration.