It was a strange birding day. Early in the morning, Hurricane Dorian was just off the coast of southeastern Virignia, and I expected the counterclockwise, northeasterly winds to push a lot of birds inland. When I got up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, it was mostly foggy and quite windy. It must have been one of the outer bands of the hurricane. I don't remember ever being in fog and wind at the same time. Usually, strong wind will dissipate the fog.
At any rate, there weren't any birds out that I could find on the start of the parkway or on Route 610. I figured that I might see my friendly Hooded Warbler near Hickory Springs Overlook, if it was still there and not hunkered down. I got lucky as it was willing to say hello to me.
Hooded Warbler
Nearby, I saw a Magnolia Warbler, a female Eastern Towhee, a few American Goldfinches, and a Black and White Warbler flew across the parkway less than a foot away from me, and disappeared in the brush.
Magnolia Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Monarch
I drove north again, and stopped on 610 near the old tower. A few hummingbirds were feeding on the flowers, so I took some photos as no other birds were out.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I then stopped at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch at the start of the parkway. I had just missed a Mississippi Kite there, but saw a few birds flying by, although not very many.
Merlin
Common Raven
Chimney Swift
Broad-winged Hawk
I thought that Ridgeview Park in nearby Waynesboro might be better. The sun started to appear, and it wasn't very windy at that lower elevation. But all I saw there were some common woodland species, and one female American Redstart.
American Redstart
American Redstart
Red-eyed Vireo
I tried the first eight miles of the parkway again, but there weren't any birds out, and then stopped again at the hawk watch and saw a distant eagle.
Bald Eagle
I had expected a great birding day, but it wasn't to be.