Central Virginia 3/4-9/2023

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

As I was birding in different locations this week, I thought I would try a bit of a change in reporting, and list avian species seen or heard at each location and date. My total list for this report is 41 avian species.

It was quite sunny, but also very windy, and many of the smaller birds were hunkered down. I logged 22 avian species here this morning.

Fox Sparrow

Cooper's Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

I had some errands to run in Waynesboro this morning, so I decided to do some birding away from Old Trail. The winds calmed down a bit, and I wanted to see if Pine Warblers had returned to the pine trees near mm. 3-1/2 between the parkway and Route 610. They had not returned yet, and I saw/heard only 7 avian species along the first four miles of the parkway.

White-breasted Nuthatch

Red-tailed Hawk

From the parkway, I headed down to Ridgeview Park. The wooded trail system there seems to have ground vegetation turning green a couple of weeks earlier than in other nearby locations. I ended up with 18 avian species in the park.

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Carolina Wren

It was a delightful day to be out birding, and I logged 28 avian species this morning.

Hermit Thrush

Winter Wren

Dark-eyed Junco

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Cooper's Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

There was plenty of sunshine, but it was quite chilly and windy. Many of the smaller birds remained hunkered down. I logged 23 avian species this morning.

Carolina Wren

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Like yesterday, there was plenty of sunshine along with chilly temperatures and winds were gusty at times. I logged 25 avian species this morning.

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-shouldered Hawk

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Song Sparrow

Swamp Sparrow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers

Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers

I needed to be in Nellysford early afternoon, so I hiked a bit on the Rockfish Valley Trail mid- to late morning. Most of the birds I saw there were sparrows, and I ended up with 20 avian species.

White-throated Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Hermit Thrush

Carolina Wren

Red-shouldered Hawk

Black Vulture

Here's a list of species seen/heard by date and location:

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