With a dawn start I slowly cruised parts of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Rt.
610 beginning at Afton Mountain. The traffic was almost non-existent,
affording easy listening from the vehicle for some very vocal birds. The
constant din of chipmunks was a bit annoying, however. I stopped a few
times and viewed a few birds as well. Highlights:
Wild Turkey -- 1 a struttin', 1 a gobblin'.
Ruffed Grouse -- 2 a drummin'.
Three vireos were heard:
Red-eyed -- many, a few seen in territorial flight chases.
Blue-headed and Yellow-throated --1 each.
Redstarts -- by far the most common warbler up there.
Ovenbirds -- the next most common.
Hooded Warbler -- maybe 10, seemingly regularly spaced.
Cerulean Warbler -- heard/saw at least 15.
N. Parula -- a few.
Worm-eating Warblers -- in moderate numbers on steeper slopes.
Kentucky W. -- one vocal male near milepost 2 on BRP (first of the year for
me).
Black-throated Green W. -- perhaps 8, heard or seen.
Black and White Warbler -- half dozen, mostly above 2800'.
Chestnut-sided Warbler -- 3 or 4, all above 3000'(first of the year for me).
Myrtle Warbler -- 6 or 8 were bathing in a little stream fall.
A few more FIRSTS of the year for me:
Scarlet Tanagers -- 2 seen, a few more heard.
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks -- 2 females seen.
Great Crested Flycatcher -- a handful were heard.
Eastern Wood Pewee -- several.
Wood Thrush songs echoed throughout. No Swainson's yet.
Dark-eyed Juncos were quite vocal and visible above 2800'.
One chickadee at 3000' that was well marked for a Black-capped, but it would
not sing or call. The only chickadee songs I heard at all elevations were
Carolinas. One Carolina Chickadee nest with egg, first located yesterday by
Melissa Druff and Chipper.
A hawk nest first located by Peter VanAcker on Sunday was confirmed today to
be occupied by a Red-tailed Hawk.
The usual complement of woodpeckers were encountered including 1 Hairy, but
no sapsuckers or Red-headed. Also the expected woodland "taken-for-granted"
birds such as titmice, W-b Nuthatch, robins, gnatcatchers, etc. etc. were
there.
On the way down the mountain I saw my first Baltimore Oriole near Sherando.
John
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