American Goldfinches
I've been birding on and along the Blue Ridge Parkway for 15 years, and this has been the poorest year for migrating fall warblers. Sure, there have been a few pockets of mixed warbler flocks here in central Virginia, but I can usually count on several or more warbler species every day from the beginning of September through mid-October. This was not the case this year. I only remember one fall a few years ago that wasn't great for warblers, but even then, there were more than this year.
October 13There was dense fog here in Crozet, but the VDOT traffic cameras showed clear skies up at Rockfish Gap, so I headed up there. It was very quiet along Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm.4 of the parkway, so I got back on the parkway and birded south to Reids Gap. There were very few birds, but lots and lots of cars, especially for a Wednesday morning. The fall leaf color is still a week or so before peak, so I was surprised to see so many cars up there.
American Goldfinches
American Goldfinches
I headed back to Route 610 and found a small flock of birds near Old Elk Mountain Road. There were Carolina Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and at least three warbler species foraging for bugs and berries. These birds were tough to see, but I did get a few photos.
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
I continued north on Route 610, and stopped when I heard a few birds. There was a Blue-headed Vireo, my first of season Golden-crowned Kinglet, and another Blackpoll Warbler.
Blue-headed Vireo
Blackpoll Warbler
The fog was even more dense this morning, and the VDOT cameras showed fog up at Rockfish Gap as well, so I waited for the fog to clear before heading up to the parkway and 610. Once again, there were very few birds, but not as many cars on the parkway, until about an hour after the fog cleared. I saw only a few birds.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Common Yellowthroat
It's supposed to be in the 80s tomorrow, and then a cool front moves in and drops the temperatures about 10 degrees and closer to normal for this time of year. I've seen late season migrating warblers through the first week of November in previous years, so I'm not giving up and hoping this weather change will push some migrating warblers into the area.