Venture to Blue
Ridge Mountains
April 17, 2004
After
a cool start, it was a classic early spring morning in the Blue Ridge. There
were barely any leaves on the trees, a fact that made the birds really easy to
see. Well, relatively so anyway. It took us quite some time to find the singing
Blackburnian Warblers in the leafless treetops, but eventually we did have
success. The first Ceruleans were also in and we were very lucky to have great
views of both a singing male and a beautiful chartreuse-colored female. Both
Black-and-white and Hooded Warblers were in good voice and gave us great views,
along with a single Chestnut-sided and a Palm Warbler -surprisingly high in the
Craggies. Also somewhat out of range was a Black Vulture circling above Craggy
pinnacle and a flyover Vesper Sparrow. That's birding for you. Birding in the
early spring and listening to the newly arrived migrants is a truly uplifting
experience and makes one happy to be alive!
|
Birds |
|
| Black Vulture (1) | Cedar Waxwing |
| Turkey Vulture | European Starling |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (1) | Blue-headed Vireo (15+) |
| Cooper’s Hawk (1) | Yellow-throated Vireo (Heard) |
| Broad-winged Hawk (1) | Chestnut-sided Warbler (1) |
| Red-tailed Hawk (2) | Yellow-rumped Warbler (4) |
| Mourning Dove | Blackburnian Warbler (10+) |
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1) | Palm Warbler (1) |
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Heard) | Cerulean Warbler (2) |
| Downy Woodpecker | Black-and-white Warbler (10+) |
| Hairy Woodpecker (1) | American Redstart (2) |
| Northern Flicker | Worm-eating Warbler (1) |
| Pileated Woodpecker (Heard) | Ovenbird (1) |
| Blue Jay | Hooded Warbler (10+) |
| American Crow | Scarlet Tanager (1) |
| Northern Raven (1) | Northern Cardinal |
| Carolina Chickadee | Eastern Towhee |
| Tufted Titmouse | Vesper Sparrow (1 - ST) |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | Song Sparrow |
| Brown Creeper (Heard) | Dark-eyed Junco (Heard) |
| Carolina Wren | Red-winged Blackbird (2) |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Heard) | Common Grackle |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1) | Brown-headed Cowbird (BO) |
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher | House Finch |
| Wood Thrush (Heard) | Pine Siskin |
| American Robin | American Goldfinch |
| Brown Thrasher | |
| Other Critters | |
| Gray Squirrel | |
| Butterflies | |
| West Virginia White | Juvenal’s Duskywing |
| Tiger Swallowtail | Spring Azure |
| Spicebush Swallowtail | |