Blackpoll Warbler
It was bright, sunny, and cool this morning, and the BirdCast radar had shown good avian migration through Virginia overnight. I was eager to see if any warblers had settled down in my usual warbler sites up on Route 610 and the Blue Ridge Parkway. This week usually ends fall warbler migration through this area, except for a few stragglers. Route 610 was quiet on my first pass south, so I headed up to the south end of the cirque (mm. 7.5). It was fairly quiet there as well, but I did get to see a Blackpoll Warbler and a female Black-throated Blue Warbler. Traffic was heavier up there than I had expected, even though we're still a week or two before peak fall leaf colors.
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
I turned around and went back to Route 610. A short distance south of the intersection with mm. 4 of the parkway, I stopped and saw an unusual warbler perched high up in an opening of one of the trees. It stayed there for a few minutes while it was preening. I first noticed its bright yellow underside, even though it was backlit. And then I saw a grayish head with a complete white eye-ring, and thought Nashville Warbler. But I also saw a faint pale orange bib like that of a Northern Parula, a pinkish-orange bottom bill, and yellow feet. I was really puzzled. After researching this, I learned that first fall female Nashville Warblers can have a orange-buff cast on the breast, but the underside should be pale yellow and not bright yellow. The bill and feet colors are okay for this species, so that's what it was.
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Nashville Warbler
A bit farther north on 610, I saw a male Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
When I got back to the old tower, I met up with Huck Hutchens. We saw another female Black-throated Blue Warbler.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
We then went south on 610. I didn't see any more warblers, but had 4 Swainson's Thrushes and my first of season Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (2). There were a few Eastern Towhees as well.
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
Eastern Towhee