Rain on Monday ushered in a cool front, and it was very cloudy this morning, but the forecast was for the weather to clear. Walt Childs and I started out at the Rockfish Valley Trail, but it wasn't very "birdy" again. Prior to a couple of years ago, before the new owners of a large adjacent parcel of land clear-cut the vegetation, the trail was a magnet for birds, especially migrating warblers. Now it is tough to find many birds there. We did see a few species, including a Common Yellowthroat and a Wilson's Warbler.
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Cedar Waxwings
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Gray Catbird
Red-shouldered Hawk
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
We headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but as we climbed in elevation, we were soon engulfed in dense fog. The entire parkway from Reids Gap (mm. 14) to Rockfish Gap (mm. 0) was socked in. So we headed down to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. The sky started to clear a bit, and we had four other warbler species in the park, as well as Blue-headed, Red-eyed, and White-eyed Vireos.
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black and White Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
By the time we left Ridgeview Park, we had 38 species for the day, and tried the parkway once again, but it was still completely fogged.
This morning was bright and sunny. I went back to the Rockfish Valley Trail, hoping for better luck there. As soon as I parked my car on Route 627 and walked a few feet, I saw three Black-throated Green Warblers and a White-eyed Vireo. I thought that it might be a good day on the trail.
Black-throated Green Warbler
White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
But the rest of the trail was quiet, so perhaps the Blue Ridge Parkway might be better?
However, as I neared Reids Gap, I could see fog on the parkway. I stopped at Three Ridges Overlook (mm. 13). It's usually not a great place to look for birds, but the fog was ten feet above the ground there, and I could see a few birds. It seemed like they were taking advantage of at least a bit of sun, and were foraging close to the ground.
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat
The parkway was foggy all the way north to about mm. 3, and I stopped at a few places north of there, once on adjacent route 610 near the tower and later, about 1/2 mile south of mm. 2 on the parkway, where warblers foraging in the sunlight. These are not my usual birding sites on and along the parkway, but the fog must have pushed the birds to clearer areas.
Magnolia Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Ovenbird
Black and White Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
I decided to try Ridgeview Park again. As soon as I entered the wooded area, I saw a striking Swainson's Thrush.
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
The park didn't have a lot of birds in this early afternoon, but there were a few warblers, and a couple of the Magnolia Warblers didn't mind close-up photos.
Downy Woodpecker
White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
American Redstart
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
I headed back to my car that was parked just outside of the wooded area, and a Black-throated Green Warbler was in a tree next to the car, along with my first-of-season Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet