Blue-headed Vireo
The Old Trail subdivision here in Crozet consists of densly packed homes and townhouses, an assisited living facility, golf course, and the four mile long Lindy Bain loop trail. Old Trail also completely surrounds the Albemarle County Western Park that now is comprised of a good size wetlands area, a soccer field, and a small community garden. When the fog finally lifted this morning, I knew that birding here in Old Trail would not be great, as most of the gravel/paved parts of the trail would be crowded with walkers and loud children, and the few dirt and more rugged sections of the trail have narrow sections where it is almost impossible to move to a safe "social distance" from others.
I decided to head over to the wooded trails in Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. These trails are not too crowded, and are a bit wider making it easier for keeping a safe distance from others. This park also tends to "green-up"a bit sooner than other areas here in central Virginia. I ended up with 28 avian species in Ridgeview Park this morning (see list below). I saw a Blue-headed Vireo, perhaps the same one that I saw on March 20, although it was far from where I saw one on the 20th.
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
Carolina Wren
Carolina Chickadee
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Towhee
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
But the highlight of the hike this morning in Ridgeview Park was watching a pair of juvenile Red-shouldered Hawks build a nest in the wooded section of the park. They kept bringing sticks and leaves to it. Each time they separated, American Crows and Blue Jays would harrass one of the single hawks, resulting in the hawk calling for the other one to come to its aid. I left after a while of watching this show, and hope that the crows and jays don't drive the hawks away.
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawks
Red-shouldered Hawk
From there, I decided to try the first 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway/Route 610. I knew that most of that route would be devoid of birds, but perhaps the lower elevation areas might have some early migrants. I got onto parallel Route 610 at mm. 2, and took that road to mm. 4. On Route 610, I added Eastern Bluebird, Dark-eyed Junco, and a pair of Pine Warblers to my day list, and Common Ravens on the parkway. One of the Pine Warblers was a very pale, first spring female.
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler
Dark-eyed Junco
I exited the parkway at Reids Gap (mm. 14), and did some birding in the Rockfish Valley, where I added Sharp-shinned Hawk, Tree Swallow, White-throated Sparrow, Eastern Meadowlark, Chipping Sparrow, and Black Vulture, bringing my day total to 38 avian species. I also saw another Pine Warbler.
Pine Warbler
Eastern Phoebe
I tried to get ahead of the crowd here in Old Trail this morning, but had to cut my hike short with 28 avian species as the trails got too crowded. I did see a small flock of four or five Rusty Blackbirds in Western Park.
Rusty Blackbirds
Rusty Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Ridgeview Park list (March 26):
Canada Goose
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
Blue-headed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
European Starling
Mourning Dove
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Northern Cardinal
Rock Pigeon
House Sparrow