Belted Kingfisher
I haven't had a lot of time to go birding during this period. In two trips up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, I saw very few birds. Dense, broad-leafed vegetation, such as wild grape vines, are now mostly yellow and shriveled, and I suspect many birds are now foraging at lower elevations with more greenery. I did end up seeing six First of Season (FOS) avian species.
Old Trail; Crozet, VA; September 29-30
Belted Kingfisher
Blackpoll Warbler
Carolina Wren
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
Northern Flickers
Red-shouldered Hawk
Black Ratsnake
My reflection in eye of Black Ratsnake
Cape May Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
FOS Yellow-rumped Warbler
Great Blue Heron
FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet
FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet
FOS Ruby-crowned Kinglet
FOS White-throated Sparrow
I started off up on the parkway, but there were very few birds, so I took Route 664 down to the Rockfish Valley Trail. It was fairly quiet there as well, but I got my FOS Palm Warbler (my 2023 warbler species # 30).
FOS Palm Warbler
I stopped off in Stoney Creek (Rockfish Valley section of Wintergreen), and hiked one of the trails where I used to look for warblers when I was living there. No warblers, but another FOS species.
FOS Swainson's Thrush
Carolina Wren
Blue Grosbeak
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
I had an errand to run in the morning, so I took an early afternoon hike under complete cloud cover. I was happy to log more than 25 avian species, including another FOS species.
FOS Swamp Sparrow
FOS Swamp Sparrow
Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
White-breasted Nuthatch