Heading south on the Blue Ridge Parkway to SW VA on Wednesday I birded near
Waynesboro. American Redstarts were singing at the Humpback Rocks Visitor
Center. Warbler Road was hopping with Black-throated Blues, American
Redstarts, Summer and Scarlet Tanagers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Pale
pink Wild Azalea was blooming and temperatures were warm. Early Thursday
morning I did the Roanoke Mountain loop off the Parkway. It was way cool. A
pair of Wood Thrushes were foraging together. I love their flute-like song.
I watched as a Pileated Woodpecker hammered on a rotten branch. We were both
startled when the branch broke and crashed loudly through to the forest
floor. The Pileated flew away calling loudly. A pair of Summer Tanagers and
a male Scarlet Tanager seemed to be playing tag. A Rose-breasted Grosbeak
sang close to me and was answered by several loud irks from various parts of
the woods. From Rocky Knob to Fancy Gap the Flame Azaleas were blooming. I
stopped to take a picture of a Magnolia in bloom and found a Blue-Gray
Gnatcatcher nest on a lichen covered branch.
Friday morning on my way to Whitetop Mountain I stopped at the Marion Fish
Hatchery. Barn Swallows were nesting under the eaves of the building. An
Osprey circled low over the ponds but didn't do any fishing while I was
watching. At the Jennings Visitor Center of the Mount Rogers National
Recreation Area I heard and saw my first Blackburnian Warbler this spring.
On Whitetop Mountain the Chestnut-sided Warblers sang "pleased, pleased,
pleased to meet 'ya". The biggest Juncos I've ever seen live on Whitetop
Mountain. A Vesper Sparrow was perched in a wind-stunted tree singing. At
Whitetop Station I was happy to see the birds I associate with that
location. Brown Thrashers, Least Flycatchers, Common Yellowthroats and
Yellow Warblers were easy to view.
A cold-front was coming through as I drove to Whitetop Saturday morning. Fog
encased the mountain and the wind howled on top. The Mt. Rogers Naturalist
Rally group I was to co-lead had to go down the mountain without me as I
have a torn meniscus. Halfway down the road near the information sign with
bullet holes Canada Warblers were singing. I even got some good pictures of
one with its head thrown back and beak open. Black-throated Blue,
Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Black and White and a single Magnolia
were also seen at this spot. Red-breasted Nuthatches made their nasal sound.
Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos sang and Ovenbirds bellowed their "teacher,
teacher, teacher". At Raccoon Branch campground a Golden-crowned Kinglet
flittered in an oak tree.
I finished my visit to Marion with a Sunday morning trip to Hungry Mother
State Park as I usually do. The trees along the cabin loop were dripping
with Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Black and White Warblers. Driving along the
New River back to the Parkway I saw a Bald Eagle soaring and being chased by
crows. Near Meadows of Dan a Wild Turkey launched itself from a bank and
almost didn't clear my windshield as it crossed the road. It was the fourth
of the trip. The difference that five days' time had made was that Catawba
Rhododendrons had begun to bloom, and close to Waynesboro Mountain Laurel
was also beginning to bloom. As I stopped to take a few last pictures I
heard the "didya eat, didya eat, didya eat this year" of a Hooded Warbler.
Thanks for that mnemonic, Roger Mayhorn.
--
Lee Loudenslager Adams
Suggett's Point Warsaw, VA
Fredericksburg, VA
