Central Virginia 5/11/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

I was really looking forward to going birding this morning. The Birdcast web site had predicted heavy migration through Virginia overnight, and this morning, the actual radar showing avian migration had confirmed the prediction. The temperature was supposed to be in the upper 50s, with the wind changing from southerly to coming from the northwest. But what wasn't forecast was the very strong wind that I encountered, keeping most of the birds hunkered down.

Ridgeview Park

I arrived a little before 9:30, and hiked the same path as yesterday. I ended up with 22 avian species atthe park, but the only wablers I logged were heard only Common Yellowthroat and Nashville. The Solitary Sandpiper I saw there yesterday was the first time I had ever seen a shorebird at that park, and today I saw a Spotted Sandpiper. Once again, I saw a flying Green Heron that I couldn't get into focus for a good shot.

Photo Unavailable
Spotted Sandpiper

Route 610/Blue Ridge Parkway

I decided to try Route 610 near the parkway. I hoped that if the wind died down, birds that had been hunkered down would come out to forage. But the wind persisted, and I saw very few birds, adding 10 avian species to my day list. I heard a Hooded Warbler, saw one and heard a few Ovenbirds, and was only able to photograph two warbler species.

Photo Unavailable
Male American Redstart

Photo Unavailable
Female American Redstart

I heard singing (male) Cerulean Warblers at two locations, one of which was where I had photographed one preening yesterday. A short distance to the north of there, I was able to get a fair number of photos of a female Cerulean Warbler. Presumably, it had just flown in overnight, and is possibly the mate of the nearby male. I really had to wait until I processed the photos to be sure what it was. The wind kept blowing the female Cerulean around, and it was making a loud chirp call that I have never heard before coming from a Cerulean.

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Female Cerulean Warbler

Photo Unavailable
Indigo Bunting


E-mail comments on this report

Return to blog page home