Great Egret
High temperatures and calm winds meant that there might not be many birds that had migrated into my area overnight, so I opted to try Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir here in Crozet rather than going up on the parkway. But I also wanted to get to higher elevations as the morning progressed and the temperature rose. I didn't see a single warbler at Lickinghole, but I did end up with 20 avian species there. Most of them were woodland birds, but there were a few treats for me to see. I also saw some colorful tree fungus and an American Toad.
Great Egret
Immature male Northern Cardinal
Gray Catbird
Scarlet Tanager
Immature male Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Male and female Pileated Woodpeckers
Male and female Pileated Woodpeckers
Fungus
American Toad
I saw an Osprey fishing at the reservoir.
Osprey
The second time I saw this Osprey, it had caught a fish. As it flew with the fish in its talons, it passed a perched Bald Eagle. I hadn't noticed the eagle when I took the photo, but I did hear the Osprey calling loudly. I assumed it was looking for its mate, and didn't realize that the Osprey knew the eagle was going to try to take the fish away from it.
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
All of a sudden, the Bald Eagle appeared behind the Osprey and started to chase it.
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey and Bald Eagle
Osprey and Bald Eagle
The Osprey escaped with its fish, circled once, and then headed off into the woods.
Osprey
Osprey
Osprey
Well, that was exciting to watch! The temperature was getting hot, but I wasn't ready to quit yet, so I drove over to Mint Springs Park. I had already hiked 2+ miles at Lickinghole, and knew that the best place to bird at Mint Springs Park was up the steep Fire Trail from the start at about 950 feet to the level part of the trail at 1300 feet. I hoped that the hike up that trail would be worthwhile. About a third of the way up the trail, I heard a Hooded Warbler, but couldn't see it. It was really quiet, and I remained cautiously optomistic that I might find warblers near where the trail leveled off. That always seemed to be a good place to find birds as a mountain creek ran right by that location. But as I approached the level area of the trail, I could see that the creek was dry, and wondered if the burning muscles in my legs was for naught. And then I heard a small flock of birds. There was a Wood Thrush, a juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a few Northern Cardinals and Carolina Wrens, and a few warblers. I saw a female (probably first fall) Black and White Warbler, and a male and a female American Redstart.
Wood Thrush
Immature Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Female Black and White Warbler
Female Black and White Warbler
Male American Redstart
Female American Redstart
I got a quick look at another warbler species there. It had a bright yellow breast, a dark back, and a dark head. I mentally ruled out Hooded Warbler, and thought perhaps Canada Warbler or Magnolia Warbler, but they didn't seem to fit the quick look I had of this bird before it flew. I wondered if it might have been a Mourning Warbler, as one of this species was reported there a few years ago. I headed back down the trail, and this time found the Hooded Warbler. It was foraging with a Magnolia Warbler.
Hooded Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
When I got home and started processing photos, I saw the mystery warbler(?) in one of my photos, behind the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. It's possible that the yellow in the photo is just a leaf, but it matches the coloring of the bird that I saw fly away.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak and warbler(?) in the background