Blue Ridge Parkway, VA 8/4-5/2020

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

The first two to three weeks of August are usually slow for birding here in central Virginia. Many of the summer residents have already left, and very few migrating or winter residents have arrived. I'm eagerly awaiting the last week of August to start seeing more than a handful of early migrating species. However, Hurricane Isaisa moved up the east coast, and I wanted to see if any early, coastal migrating species had been pushed this far to the west.

August 4

I hadn't planned on doing any birding today, as the forecast was for the hurricane to cause heavy rain until mid-afternoon. But by 9:00 this morning, the rain had stopped and the sun came out. So I changed my plans and headed up to the parkway. When I arrived at 10:00, it was mostly sunny but fairly windy, and not very "birdy." I started off on Route 610 after exiting the parkway near mm. 2. All I saw on 610 were woodland species, including quite a few Tufted Titmice.

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Hairy Woodpecker

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Hairy Woodpecker

I got back onto the parkway at mm. 4, and stopped at the cirque (mm. 7.5). I heard an American Redstart and a few Yellow-throated Vireos, but only a few more woodland species.

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Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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Male Indigo Bunting

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Female Indigo Bunting

I headed up to Hickory Springs Overlook (mm. 12). I hiked north of the overlook and saw a male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

I decided to hike down about 1/4 mile south of the overlook where I had seen a mixed warbler flock on July 30 (just before road construction signs on each side of the parkway). I head a Cerulean Warbler and another American Redstart, and then got a quick look at a female Hooded Warbler deep in the woods.

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Female Hooded Warbler

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Female Hooded Warbler

I returned on the same route, and ended up with 21 avian species. I was a bit disappointed in not seeing many warblers.

August 5

Well, I wanted to try again. It was mostly sunny, and not nearly as windy. I skipped 610 and made my first stop at the cirque a little after 9:30 - more woodland species.

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Male Indigo Bunting

So I headed south to Hickory Springs Overlook. I heard the chink call of a Hooded Warbler to the north of the overlook, and headed that direction first. This time, I saw an interesting male Hooded Warbler. It was missing its tail feathers, and there was quite a bit of rufous-brown feathers on its head. I suspect that it was a first fall male molting into adult plumage, and the rufous-brown feathers are from juvenile plumage. White casings over incoming feathers are also easily seen.

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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

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Male Hooded Warbler

Then I headed south of the overlook to try to re-locate the female Hooded Warbler. On the way, I heard a few Ovenbirds in the woods making their chewk call.

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Ovenbird

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Ovenbird

When I got close to the road construction signs, I heard the chink call of a Hooded Warbler, and the female popped up for a very quick look. I also got quick looks at a Black and White Warbler, a male American Redstart, and a Cerulean Warbler. The American Redstart appears to be a first summer male that has gotten most of its adult plumage, but its bill is still partially pinkish. The Cerulean may be the first fall male that I saw there on July 30.

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Black and White Warbler

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American Redstart

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Cerulean Warbler

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Red-eyed Vireo

The warblers were tough to see and photograph with all the dense leaves, but it was a good outing, and I ended up with 16 avian species.


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