Sunday, May 4, 2008
The predicted rain never materialized and the front pushed through Saturday
night, earlier than predicted.
Making the most of a good weather day, I headed to the mountains in hopes of
seeing FOS warblers.
First stop was James River along Blue Ridge Parkway where CLIFF SWALLOW were
actively building nests, retrieving mud from a nearby exposed patch of wet
red Virginia clay. A few BARN SWALLOW AND BANK SWALLOW crisscrossed over
and below the bridge. Other highlights at this site were BALTIMORE ORIOLE,
stunning atop tree in bright morning light; ORCHARD ORIOLE, YELLOW WARBLER,
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, RED-EYED VIREO, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WOOD THRUSH,
GREAT BLUE HERON and male WOOD DUCK.
Further south along the parkway I came across a WILD TURKEY hen alongside
the road that was intent on looking for food and did not seemed disturbed
when I hit the brake and backed up and then slowly kept pace as she moved
along heading south. At times she was so close I had difficulty focusing
the lens.
Arrived at Sunset Field Overlook, elevation 3472', milepost 79, later than
planned. It was a chilly 48 degrees and breezy. Surprisingly, very little
activity and although this is an excellent spot for singing Chestnut-sided
Warbler, not one could be heard or seen. I slowly wound my way down
"Warbler Road" making quite a few stops to look, listen and photograph. My
husband still cannot believe how many hours it takes birders to transverse
this 6-mile stretch.
The wind diminished and the temp slowly climbed to a very comfortable 69
degrees by late morning. The true down note was lack of warbler diversity,
especially given the time of year and perfect weather.
Surprise of the day was a peenting AMERICAN WOODCOCK.
Highlights with web link to few pics:
AMERICAN REDSTART
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER (heard only)
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER (photographed)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/GalleryPages/Black-throatedBlueWarbler_Galler
y.html
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
CANADA WARBLER (only one, an adult male)
CERULEAN WARBLER (photographed)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/GalleryPages/CeruleanWarbler_Gallery.html
HOODED WARBLER (heard only)
NORTHERN PARULA
OVENBIRD (heard only)
WORM-EATING WARBLER (heard only)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
SCARLETT TANAGER (stunning, especially the two sparing adult males)
INDIGO BUNTING (photographed)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/IndigoBunting3_Link.html
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (adult male photographed less than 10 feet away)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Rose-breastedGrosbeak3_Link.html
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
RED-EYED VIREO (photographed)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/Red-eyedVireo_Link.html
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
BLUE-HEADED VIREO
AMERICAN WOODCOCK
HERMIT THRUSH
WOOD THRUSH
WILD TURKEY (2nd one for the day)
http://www.birdsofvirginia.com/ImageLinks/WildTurkey2_Link.html
RUFFED GROUSE
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (adult female building nest)
BROWN THRASHER
CHIPPING SPARROW
FIELD SPARROW
RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEE
COMMON RAVEN
Surprise misses:
CHESNUT-SIDED WARBLER
CUCKOOS
EASTERN WOOD PEWEE
ALDER FLYCATCHER
EASTERN KINGBIRD
Brenda Tekin - <http://www.birdsofvirginia.com> www.birdsofvirginia.com
Brenda's Nature Photography, including Birds of Virginia
<BLOCKED::mailto:bt8x@xxxxxxxxxxxx> brenda@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx / (434)
962-4936
"Leave behind what you find; if you must take something, take pictures."
