Strong storms moved through the area yesterday afternoon. It was bad here in Crozet, and even worse west of the Blue Ridge. Waynesboro had rain, strong winds, hail, and a tornado. It was sunny, cooler, and breezy this morning, and I headed over to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. The wooded area of the park can be a good location for warblers, and I wanted to see if there might have been a "fall out" of migrating warblers that sought shelter in the park. The streets near the park were littered with small bits of tree debris, and when I got to the park, some of the wooded trails where I bird were completely blocked by downed trees. I did manage to log 25 avian species in the park, but only three warbler species.
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Swamp Sparrow
After leaving the park, I decided to look for warblers up on Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. I had 7 warbler species along that stretch only 3 days ago. It was really quiet there this morning. I only saw/heard three or four birds all along those two miles. On my return, I did see a single Hooded Warbler and a male and a female American Redstart. I wonder if the storm drove the birds away to look for safer places to hunker down?
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
American Redstart
American Redstart