Black-throated Green Warbler
It was sunny, cool, and a bit breezy, and I wanted to look for warblers. I decided to go first to Ridgeview Park in Waynesboro, as Route 610/Blue Ridge Parkway would be cooler and more windy. I also wanted to go birding at the park before too many people were there.
Ridgeview ParkI arrived at 9:30, and soon after I started my hike, I got lucky. I walked down a short path from the main trail to an area where a small creek is separated from the river. I found a mixed flock of 5 warbler species, including 2 that I hadn't see yet in 2020. A Black-throated Green Warbler was my 19th warbler species of 2020, and a pair of Wilson's Warblers was my 20th.
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
The prettiest of the lot was a cooperative male Northern Parula.
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
Northern Parula
I continued on my hike, and heard a Common Yellowthroat. But as I approached the area where I heard it singing, a Green Heron flew up from the creek and out of sight. I didn't find the Yellowthroat, but saw one later along the river near the tennis courts.
Common Yellowthroat
Well, 6 warbler species wasn't a bad start, and by the time I left the park at 11:30, I had logged 25 to 30 avian species.
Pileated Woodpecker
Brown Thrasher
It was already getting late, and I knew the chances of finding more migrating warblers elsewhere today was slim, so I headed up to Route 610 between mm. 2 and mm. 4 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Seven warbler species are breeding along there, and while I have already seen and photographed all of them this spring, it seemd like a good way to have a double digit warbler outing. When I arrived, it was quite windy, and at first all I had was a Hooded Warbler and a female American Redstart.
Hooded Warbler
Hooded Warbler
By 1:00 p.m., the wind had died down a bit, and the bird's lunch hour was over :-) I heard a few Black and White Warblers and a few Ovenbirds, bringing my warbler species total for the day to 10, but I didn't see them. Near the end of my outing up there, I stopped when I saw a pair of Worm-eating Warblers flitting about. American Redstarts were in the trees, and I got my first Cerulean Warbler of the day, giving me 12 warbler species for this trip. With some new non-warbler species, I had 35 to 40 avian species for the day.
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler
American Redstart
Cerulean Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher