Skyline Drive warblers
The fog had just come in around us at about 3pm today near the White Oak
Canyon Trail on Skyline Drive; it seemed to have pushed a huge flock of
warblers
down to the rainy open area where Bob & I were walking.
The flock of some 50 birds was mostly low to the ground in brush piles and
saplings, with some of them perching as close as 10 feet away. The rain seemed
to allow them to perch in view a few seconds longer than usual.
The Hooded Warblers were the most spectacular of the group; there were about
8 of them. The Cape May warblers were also abundant (10). Other warblers
(estimates) included: Tennessees (4), a Nashville; a Parula; Black-and-Whites
(3); Black-throated Blues (8); Chestnut-sided (2); a Magnolia; Black-throated
Greens (4); a Pine; a Kentucky; an Ovenbird; American Redstarts (2).
Other notables: Blue-headed Vireo, 8 empidonax flycatchers
I was thrilled - flocks like these don't come easy!
Joan Boudreau & Bob Abrams