September 26, 2014 [LINK / comment]
It's been a little slow birding-wise this month, but I did come across a nice bunch of neotropical migrants at Spruce Creek Park near the Rockfish Valley trail last week. Unfortunately, the Chestnut-sided Warblers were too far away for a good photograph. On Monday, I saw a Black-throated Blue Warbler at Montgomery Hall Park in Staunton, and I saw that same species the very next day on the Blackwater Creek Trail in Lynchburg, managing to get a decent photo. (Stay tuned.) I also saw a Cape May Warbler there, as well as in our back yard earlier on Monday.
Cape May Warbler (probably female or juvenile), in Staunton, September 22.
Clockwise from top left: Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler, on the Blue Ridge Parkway, September 10. All are females or juvenile males.
I have also spent some time up at the Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch this month, and have seen a number of Broad-winged Hawks, Bald Eagles, Ospreys, and other raptors.