Crozet, VA 10/20-21/2021

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

It's that time of year when I am out looking for late migrating avian species and arriving winter species.

Old Trail; October 20

I started off looking for the Nashville Warbler I had seen late yeasterday morning along Slabtown Branch Creek. That was a mistake, as the entire area was still in the shade of the low sun angle, and there weren't many birds there. I did however, get my first of season Winter Wren, close to where I have seen this species in previous years.

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Winter Wren

I continued birding in Western Park and along the golf course pond, and ended up with 26 avian species for the morning.

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet

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Song Sparrow

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Song Sparrow

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White-crowned Sparrow

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First of season Field Sparrow

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Red-bellied Woodpecker

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Common Raven chasing a Turkey Vulture

I returned to Slabtown Branch Creek, and saw another Yellow-rumped Warbler. This one appeared to have a buffy yellow throat and almost no supcilium (eye brow). I thought that it might be an out-of-range Audubon's subspecies, but after looking at all the photos I took of it, I think that it was an in-range Myrtle subspecies.

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

Lickinghole Creek and Basin; October 21

I saw a Tennessee Warbler soon after starting my hike, but this was the only warbler I saw this morning.

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

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Tennessee Warbler

The pair of Great Egrets at the basin must have departed, but I saw a Killdeer on the gravel bar, and at least three, first of season, Wilson's Snipes.

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Killdeer

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Wilson's Snipe

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Wilson's Snipes

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Wilson's Snipe

I ended up with 19 avian species there, including 6 avian species I had not seen the day before, giving me 32 avian species for my two-day total. I heard another Winter Wren chatting away near the wooden blind.

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Wren

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Carolina Wren

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Ruby-crowned Kinglet


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