This year's autumnal migration continues to be erratic. On Wednesday, the temperature was almost 90 degrees. A cold front moved through the area on Thursday, bringing light showers on Thursday morning, and strong winds that have persisted. When I was up on the Blue Ridge Parkway mid-Friday morning, it was 48 degrees with brisk winds. On Monday at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch, only 409 raptors were counted. After the front moved through, the number of raptors counted on Thursday was 9,333!
Blue Ridge Parkway, VA; 9/20/2022I met up with Tink Moyer at the cirque on the parkway. Although we saw 5 warbler species there, most of them were distant. The best bird there was a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
American Redstart
Tennessee Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Indigo Bunting
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
We drove down to Route 610, but didn't see any more warblers.
Red-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Scarlet Tanager
We then spent a little time at the hawk watch.
Cooper's Hawk
After the clouds moved out, I did a short hike this afternoon.
Northern Cardinal
Immature female Northern Cardinal
Immature male Northern Cardinal
I got quick views of a male and a female American Redstart, and better views of a first fall female Chestnut-sided Warbler and a boldly colored male Black-throated Green Warbler.
American Redstart
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
I had hoped that the front brought lots of warblers into the area, but the only warbler I saw was a Worm-eating.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Eastern Towhee
I left the parkway at Reids Gap, and hoped that warblers would be more plentiful in the Rockfish Valley. It was a bit warmer, but still windy, and almost no birds at all on the trail.
Immature Black Ratsnake