Rain postponed our scheduled trip to Great Dismal Swamp today so I decided
to check out Warbler Road in Botetout County for an upcoming field trip.
Gordy Adamski and I left Charlottesville by 9 a.m. under threatening skies,
running into very light and brief rain showers as we headed south on Rt. 29.
At James River Park on Blue Ridge Parkway, Cliff Swallows were already
tending their mud "jug" nests.
A short distance from Sunset Overlook we ran into dense fog and missed the
first turn into the parking lot. Quite a few individuals were standing
around for some sort of marathon that morning. Thankfully they were not
using Rt. 812 (Warbler Rd.). We followed FR 812 down to 768; by the time
we reached Rt. 768 is was near 12:30 and sky was opening with bright
patches of blue sky and sunshine! It was here where we found quite a few
"singing" warblers and lovely male Scarlet Tanager with its raspy
robin-like song. Surprisingly no Indigo Bunting, no Rose-breasted
Grosbeak, no cuckoos, no Veery, and no Wood Thrush.
Highlights for the day in addition to running into VSO President Larry
Lynch and Lauren Scott along the way:
Cerulean Warbler - several close up views
Black-throated Blue Warbler -only one, a male singing along Rt. 768
Black-throated Green Warbler - several singing males including 1 feeding female
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - quite a few squeaking around
Black and White Warbler - several singing
Bay Breasted Warbler - 1 male singing
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird - many
Worm-eating Warbler - many
Northern Parula
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 singing
Scarlet Tanager - 1 male
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
At the lower elevation along the James River the following:
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 chatting in bramble near Orchard Oriole
Brown Thrasher
Yellow Warbler
Northern Parula
Baltimore Oriole (1 heard)
Orchard Oriole (1 adult male, great views)
Common Nighthawk - single bird flying north following the river
Broad-winged Hawk - single bird circling over the river
Tomorrow we're off to Great Dismal Swamp.
Brenda Tekin
Charlottesville, VA
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