I was not optimistic, as Cornell's live bird radar showed a lackluster
migration flight in our area, and BirdCast predicted low migrant activity.
I arrived at 7:10, as the sky was clearing. Things looked up immediately, as my
first stop was the little pond by the river netted seven warbler spp.,
including Western Palm, Tennessee and 4 Blackpoll Warblers (Elton, too many
according to eBird) in 15 minutes. Also, I observed a Yellow-billed Cuckoo
feeding a fat green caterpillar to a juvenile here. Nothing of note in the
picnic area to the pier. Arriving at the gun battery, I could see many warblers
in the tree tops, and crossed paths with Linda Chittum and friend.
Unfortunately I arrived toward the tail end of a nice warbler flock. Linda
indicated that most were Cape May W. with several other species mixed in
(including Yellow and Black-throated Blue, which I did not see this morning). I
found a Red-breasted Nuthatch here along with a few more warbler spp. Some
warbler activity behind the Visitor's Center, and White-eyed and Red-eyed
Vireos. Then to Bushy Point, where Linda had seen a Waterthrush at the boat
house boardwalk. I didn't find the Waterthrush, but did find an Orange-crowned
Warbler in a Buttonbush just left of the stream - my first at Leesylvania.
Finally, good weather and nice variety and number of migrants. I ended up
seeing 54 species, with 14 species of warbler (eBird checklist below). Linda
saw at least three more species of warbler I missed. So at least 17 warbler
spp. in the park this morning.
One final note - Cornell's BirdCast (http://birdcast.info/) is predicting
med.-high migration activity in our area Saturday night. If it comes to pass
and given today's activity (being "poor"), Sunday could be very good.
Scott D. Priebe
Springfield, VA
https://ebird.org/va/view/checklist/S48799435
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