Central Virginia, 9/14/15

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Huck Hutchens and I visited some local spots looking for migrating birds. The cool front that had moved into the area didn't seem to bring many birds with it, and we really had to work hard to log about 30 avian species, including 5 warbler species.

Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir; Crozet, Virginia

We saw three Great Blue Herons, two Green Herons, and a large flock of Mallards, but warblers and other woodland birds were sparse. We saw our first of four Red-shouldered Hawks of the day.


Great Blue Herons and Mallards


Green Heron


Common Yellowthroat


Red-shouldered Hawk

Mint Springs Park; Crozet, Virginia

We climbed the steep Fire Trail where we saw a pair of female Black-throated Blue Warblers, two female American Redstarts, and a single Black and White Warbler, along with a few other woodland species. Shortly after leaving the park, we saw our second Red-shouldered Hawk, and then two more at a quick visit to the King Family Vineyards.


Female Black-throated Blue Warbler


Female Black-throated Blue Warbler


Female American Redstart


Black and White Warbler


Downy Woodpecker


Eastern Wood-Pewee


Red-shouldered Hawk

Ridgeview Park; Waynesboro, Virginia

Still optimistic that we might find a more "birdy" location, we hiked Ridgeview Park, but that wasn't very "birdy" either. We did locate one small cluster of warblers that included at least two female American Redstarts and a Cape May Warbler.


Female American Redstart


Cape May Warbler

Blue Ridge Parkway

It was already mid-afternoon by the time we got to the parkway, and it was quiet there as well. We saw an immature Cape May Warbler and another female Black-throated Blue Warbler.


Cape May Warbler


Female Black-throated Blue Warbler



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