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Blue Ridge Parkway birding
- To: carolinabirds@duke.edu
- Subject: Blue Ridge Parkway birding
- From: "Will Cook" <cwcook@duke.edu>
- Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 11:42:40 -0400
- Resent-date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 09:54:05 -0500
- Resent-from: "Will Cook" <cwcook@duke.edu>
- Resent-message-id: <200210281455.JAA03672@niven.acpub.duke.edu>
- Resent-to: pardo@metalab.unc.edu
- Sender: carolinabirds-owner@acpub.duke.edu
Yesterday morning (9/29) the Blue Ridge Parkway in southern VA/northern NC
was swarming with migrants. I covered the stretch from Fancy Gap VA to
milepost 229 in NC. I was planning to visit Mahogany Rock (mp 235) but
didn't quite make it. Around noon at mp 229 I noticed Doug Shadwick parked
on the shoulder. He'd just come from Mahogany Rock and hadn't seen much, so
I decided to head back north.
Highlights were 17 warbler species, all 5 of the expected vireos (no
Warbling, which I've never seen in fall migration), all 6 thrush species
(including good looks at several Gray-cheeked and a Bicknell's), and lots of
Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
No rare warblers, but good diversity and numbers. Most common were
Tennessee and Cape May -- several dozen of each. Still not many Bay-
breasteds yet. Bay-breasted is often the most common bird up there in late
fall. Still some southern species coming through (Worm-eating and Hooded)
and no Blackpoll or Myrtle. Got my first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall,
though.
The most common thrush was Swainson's. The Bicknell's (which was near mp
206.5 in Virginia) I can't really be sure about, though I got a very close
look, heard call notes, and heard it sing a whisper-song. I sorta wish
they'd re-lump it with Gray-cheeked!
Some of the best birding spots were the edges of a field at mp 206.5, a spot
near a small stream just south of the border at mp 217.0 (almost always
something good here), and the trail at Cumberland Knob (about mp 218) -
upslope from the visitor's center, just after you get into the woods. Just
about any spot along the parkway can be good in fall migration - stop any
time you hear bird noises or see something flying across the road.
Good birding!
--
Charles W. "Will" Cook w 919-660-7423
http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook cwcook@duke.edu
Biology Dept., Duke Univ., Box 90340, Durham, NC 27708