Central Virginia 6/8/2021

All photos are © Marshall Faintich

Louisa County

Neither Tink Moyer or I had seen a Prairie Warbler yet this year, and I was eager to photograph my 34th warbler species of 2021. I asked Tink to go with me to my favorite Prairie Warbler site in Louisa County. On June 13, 2016, Walt Childs and I were exploring some back roads in Louisa County, and happened to turn onto Valentine Mill Road. It was dripping with Prairie Warblers, and we saw at least eight of them in one short section of that road. And these warblers had no problem being close to us. On May 25, 2019, I hadn't yet seen a Prairie Warbler that year, drove to the same spot on Valentine Mill Road, and soon got my first Prairie Warbler of that year. So I wanted to try 3 for 3.

Tink and I encountered quite a few birds this morning on Valentine Mill Road. We saw/heard at least four White-eyed Vireos, heard a Northern Bobwhite, saw/heard multiple Ovenbirds, heard at least three Common Yellowthroats, heard a Pileated Woodpecker, saw/heard multiple Pewees, as well as a few other species.

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Red-bellied Woodpecker

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White-eyed Vireo

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White-eyed Vireo

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Ovenbird

We hadn't gone very far when a male Prairie Warbler landed in a nearby tree and started singing!

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

A couple of hundred feet farther down the road, we saw a female Prairie Warbler gathering nesting materials.

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

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Prairie Warbler

Well, that worked out as planned!

Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir

After returning to Albemarle County, we decided to hike a bit Lickinghole Creek and Reservoir in Crozet. Right off the bat, we heard another Common Yellowthroat and saw a Louisiana Waterthrush along the creek.

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

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Louisiana Waterthrush

We picked up a few more trip species. There were two juvenile Bald Eagles at the nest with one of the adults.

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Great Blue Heron

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Green Heron

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Bald Eagles

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Bald Eagles

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Bald Eagles


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