Augusta and Nelson Counties, VA 4/2/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

The Governor of Virginia has issued a "stay at home" order for Virginia until June 10 because of the corona virus. However, outdoor activity as long as "social distancing" is observed, is allowed under the order. Thank goodness for birding, although it appears that all of my birding this spring will be on my own. It was sunny this morning, but chilly with a brisk wind out of the northwest. I wanted to go somewhere that wouldn't be too crowded, so I started off at Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro. I ended up with 20 avian species there. American Robins were quite cooperative, and I can't go to this park in the spring without taking some photos of the Virgnia Bluebells that seem to be everywhere in the wooded areas along the river.

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Eastern Towhee

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Brown Thrasher

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Dark-eyed Junco

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Hermit Thrush

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Starling

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American Robin

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American Robin

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American Robin

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Virginia bluebells

From there, I drove the first 14 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, with a short detour along Route 610. I added Common Raven and Turkey Vulture to my trip list, but otherwise it was really quiet. I exited the parkway at Reids Gap, and birded at several locations in the Rockfish Valley, where I added 11 more avian species to my trip list, bringing it to 33 avian species for th day. I saw a few more Yellow-rumped Warblers, heard a Common Yellowthroat, and photographed three Pine Warblers.

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Carolina Wren

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Northern Rough-winged Swallow

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Juvenile and adult Red-shouldered Hawks

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Yellow-rumped Warbler

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Pine Warbler

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Pine Warbler

The most interesting bird of the day was a leucistic Pileated Woodpecker. Notice all the white on its back, white fringing on its tail feathers, and lighter red feathers at the rear center of the top of its head.

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Leucistic Pileated Woodpecker


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