I met up with Tink Moyer at the old tower on Route 610 at 9:30 this morning. It was overcast most of the day. We birded along Route 610 and the parkway between mm. 4 and mm. 8, but there were more birds on 610 than the parkway, so we returned to 610, and birded until noon. We saw/heard 8, possibly 9, warbler species there. Ovenbirds and Pine Warblers were heard only warbler species. As we we're nearing noon, I saw a pair of Broad-winged Hawks mating, but they flew before I could get any photos. At one point, we encountered a small mixed warbler flock that was foraging along with American Redstarts, Ovenbirds, and Cerulean, Hooded, and Black&White Warblers. I added two more warbler species to my 2022 photo list: Magnolia and Cape May. Most of the warblers were high up in the trees, and difficult to see, identify, and photograph against the bright gray sky.
Male American Redstart
Female American Redstart
Male Black and White Warbler
Male Black and White Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler
Male Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Female Cerulean Warbler
Male Hooded Warbler
Male Magnolia Warbler
Male Magnolia Warbler
Male Magnolia Warbler
Male Cape May Warbler
While I was photographing the Magnolia Warbler, Tink was viewing another yellow colored warbler without any breast streaking. I was able to get one photo of it as it was flying away. Based on its yellow back, darker wings, and white outer tail feathers, the only warbler species that I think it could be is a Blue-winged Warbler, but without a better photo, I can't be sure.
Unidentified warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Female Black-throated Blue Warbler
Tink headed for home, and I decided to try Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. It was good to see that the downed trees from the EF-1 tornado had been cleared from the wooded area trails. As soon as I started hiking there, I got a quick look at a female Common Yellowthroat, and heard several more of them during my hike.
Female Common Yellowthroat
First year Male American Redstart
I got another new warbler species for my 2022 list.
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler Warbler
And then I got really lucky. A Northern Waterthrush popped up right in front of me , and I got my best-ever photos of this warbler species.
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
I ended my hile today watching a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks circling over the park.
Red-shouldered Hawk