Female and male American Redstarts
It's hard to believe that it is October already. I drove first to Hillandale Park in Harrisonburg to see if the mix of warblers that I saw last Friday might still be there. Although I ended up with 21 avian species at the park, I only got quick looks at three warblers - a male and a female American Redstart, and a Magnolia Warbler.
Female and male American Redstarts
Magnolia Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
I did get a good view of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
I decided to try my luck at Paul State Forest near Ottobine. Along the way, I stopped at Silver Lake in Dayton, but only saw some Barn Swallows flying over the lake. Paul State Forest was quiet as well. I saw a few woodland species, and another Rose-breasted Grosbeak.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Well, at this point I wasn't too far from Reddish Knob, so I decided to try birding there. There might be a few warbler species, and Red Crossbills are always a possibility there. Once I started the ascent up Briery Branch Road, I thought that this would be another disappointment. There were at least a dozen bear hunters with pick-up trucks running their dogs. Then I remembered, it's October. I stopped at the four road intersection, and hadn't yet seen a bird along the drive up to that point. I parked there, and hiked up FR 85 to the north, all the way to where it levels off. I saw mostly woodland birds.
Eastern Towhee
Indigo Bunting
Dark-eyed Junco
And then I got a good look at a Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
As I started back down to the four road intersection, I saw a Carolina Wren. This wren looked like the largest Carolina Wren I have ever seen. At first, I thought it might have been a Mockingbird based on its size. The photos clearly show a yellow throat on this Carolina Wren. It's not a lighting effect, as this bird has white malars next to, and clearly delineated from, its yellow throat. The Carolina Wrens I normally see have a yellow to orangish breast with a white throat. I don't know if there is a mountain sub-species of Carolina Wrens, and would appreciate comments. I heard it calling - sounded like a normal Carolina Wren.
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
I returned to my car, and drove up towards the summit, stopping at the last road just before the summit. I only saw and heard a few Black-capped Chickadees. Note the white coverts that are not found on Carolina Chickadees.
Black-capped Chickadee
I headed down, and a short distance before the four road intersection, stopped when I heard more Black-capped Chickadees. I got out to take a few more photos of them.
Black-capped Chickadee
Black-capped Chickadee
And then it got interesting. This has been a good spot for warblers on previous trips to Reddish Knob. Three warbler species: Bay-breasted, Cape May, and Northern Parula, were there, along with a Blue-headed Vireo.
Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Cape May
Cape May
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Blue-headed Vireo
And then another little bird appeared - Red-breasted Nuthatch. There might have been two or three of them. I haven't seen this species for a while, and it might be an irruptive year for them.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Well, that was fun. I didn't see or hear many birds on the way down, and stopped at the Nazarenne Wetlands before heading for home. I saw five American Wigeons there.
American Wigeons