Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 10/6/17

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

With the return of 85 degree weather, I went back up on the parkway where it is about 10 degrees cooler. I stopped on Route 610 when I saw and heard some avian activity. I saw four thrushes flying about, and thought that all four were Swainson's Thrushes, but after processing my photos, found that at least one of them was a late season Wood Thrush. I also got quick glimpses at a Chesnut-sided Warbler and a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

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Swainson's Thrush

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Swainson's Thrush

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Wood Thrush

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Chesnut-sided and Black-throated Blue Warblers

I saw very few birds on the first 14 miles of the parkway, but did find a cooperative Ovenbird on the trail next to the 3 Ridges Overlook (mm. 13).

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Eastern Towhee

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Ovenbird

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Ovenbird

After re-tracing my route with little success, I stopped at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch. It was fairly quiet there as well, but did get to see two Peregrine Falcons fly by.

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Peregrine Falcon

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Peregrine Falcon

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Peregrine Falcon

The remnants of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Nate are supposed to come through here late Sunday and Monday, and I am hoping that the counter-clockwise winds after it moves through brings some more migrating birds to the area.


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