Blue Ridge Parkway - June 2005
Bird/Species Trip List
97 species
includes heard only and a few leader only for the purpose of a first trip record…
Guide: Peg Abbott

Canada Goose – large flock on Bass Lake near Blowing Rock
Wood Duck – a dozen plus gorgeous males by the center island, scope views under the boughs of blooming rhododendron!
American Duck – one quiet individual spotted by Jan on a small pond on the southern part of the Parkway, likely nesting
Mallard – several on Bass Lake, also spotted by Tim on a smaller lake earlier
Black Vulture – seen more on the north end of the Parkway and in Shenandoah
Turkey Vulture – very common and seen daily, often below us at our vista points
Broad-winged Hawk – one dove quickly to avoid our vehicle – quite a show for Sandra and Peg in the front seat – luckily its agility proved forth. Great looks at the tail!. Tim spotted another at James River Gap, being wildly mobbed by a noisy Eastern Kingbird.
Red-tailed Hawk – one seen near river on our ice-cream run, one off the southern Parkway
Red-shouldered Hawk – Shenandoah, a quick flyover bursting through the forest while on a Flame Azalea stop! Another seen in the southern Parkway.
American Kestrel – a couple of sightings, farm country.
Ruffed Grouse – at first, heard only, FR 812, guttural sounds of a female with chicks. Then a bold male spotted by Linville Caverns, displaying on the road!
Wild Turkey – once spotted outside the Peaks of Otter area, then seen on several occasions, both hens and toms.
Red-bellied Woodpecker – adults coming and going from a nest, South River picnic area, heard loud begging calls of the young again at one of the Shenandoah pullovers. Our most common woodpecker.
Northern Flicker – Jan found our first one, perched nicely on a dead tree, fairly regular sightings after that, and a nest at Peaks of Otter. Seen on several days.
Pileated Woodpecker – one flying high over the ridge, second day, one over the road while driving. Others heard.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – a single individual seen well in the scope at Trout Lake near Blowing Rock.
Hairy Woodpecker – seen by Peg only, outside of Bluffs Lodge
Downy Woodpecker – seen on several days
Chimney Swift – many flying over the gaps, particularly in northern Shenandoah. Also by our chimney and over the fields at the Bluffs.
Mourning Dove – seen in fairly small numbers but on most days
Rock Pigeon – urban areas
Yellow-billed Cuckoo – seen first at a scenic overlook, then at Roanoke River one posed on a tree limb at close range.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird – fleeting glimpses at several, feeding on flowers, the best look the one who was chased away by the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker!
Belted Kingfisher – seen several times in our picnic area and two trails walked at James River Gap.
Eastern Wood Pewee – heard more often than seen, regular in wooded areas. One seen from the Visitor Center start of Skyline Drive. Later seen well in from an overlook where we gathered ripe strawberries, yum!
Eastern Phoebe – calling and perched boldly for us near Big Meadows Lodge, then nesting in alcove at Peaks of Otter, heard often and seen most days. Nest on light at Minerals Museum.
Acadian Flycatcher – seen well near river and hemlock forest at Linville Falls, calling
Least Flycatcher – single bird, heard only by Tim and later by Peg at same pond as Black Duck
Great Crested Flycatcher – great looks at this handsome bird, after the rains of our picnic
Eastern Kingbird – mobbing a Broad-winged Hawk James River Gap
Tree Swallow – seen from bridge near Canal site
Northern Rough-winged Swallow – under small bridge at River’s Bend
Cliff Swallow – nests under bridges
Barn Swallow – nests around buildings and bridges, our most frequent swallow
Blue Jay – seen every day, often a bright flyby, but at our ice cream stop in Glascow one paraded on the lawn for us to admire in detail.
American Crow – very common, seen daily. Most notable when mobbing the Bobcat!
Common Raven – great looks and sounds on several trails, seen daily
Carolina Chickadee – two active and vocal family groups along the shores of Abbott Lake,
Tufted Titmouse – Jan spotted this delightful little bird feeding on flowers in a low shrub as we walked around Abbott Lake early one morning. Nice looks in the high forests near Apple Orchard Mtn. Funny to hear it mimicked by Brown Thrashers.
White-breasted Nuthatch – seen on several days – best one was the family group with begging young by our picnic
Red-breasted Nuthatch – thick hemlock forests near Linville Falls
Brown Creeper – seen by Peg only, returning from our unsuccessful Peregrine watch atop the cliff
Carolina Wren – delightfully on the Blue Ridge Parkway, friendly pair nesting near our building at Peaks of Otter, and a great songster in a rock alcove on the James River
House Wren – singing in the woods around Big Meadow as we walked to Blackrock Overlook. Seen on a few other days.
Winter Wren – singing in the dense woods by our very first stop – Visitor’s Center at the start of Skyline Drive. Again at the Northwest Trading Post. Glimpses in the forest at one overlook.
Golden-crowned Kinglet – call picked up by Tim, with diligence a sighting!
Ruby-crowned Kinglet – one heard on Dark Hollow Falls Trail,
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher – a family with noisy young, lots of begging and feeding, buzzy calling from the trees. Roanoke River area.
Eastern Bluebird – great looks at South River Picnic Area
Veery – lovely calls as we descended the trail from Stony Man Mtn.. Scope views at Trout Lake.
Wood Thrush – one in parking lot of Courtyard Marriot hotel by the van, a common songster for us. Finally a really good sighting at Roanoke River, watching its bright gape as it sang.
American Robin – morning music at the lake at Peaks of Otter, common to abundant. Working diligently to feed in the rains of the tropical storm…
Gray Catbird – an abundant and regular bird for us, great songs, rapid response to Peg’s pishing…
Brown Thrasher – great close looks near a probable nest site Abbott Lake, then again high in a tree near our lodge at Peaks of Otter. Seen again near restaurant across from the Bluffs.
Cedar Waxwing – conspicuous flocks seen daily, often close up views in the trees
European Starling – town areas
Red-eyed Vireo – our most dependable forest songbird, seen daily
Blue-headed Vireo – not as regular, but we had some very good looks, lots of behavior and calling
Yellow-throated Vireo – great looks at same picnic area as Great Crested Flycatcher after the rain.
Chestnut-sided Warbler – great looks at the South River Picnic area, heard other days. Also great looks near restaurant at Bluffs, and another on rainy day atop Parkway from overlook
Blackburnian Warbler – one quick flyby from a viewpoint in Shenandoah, a female. A great sighting of male atop Stony Mtn., another in picnic area with Cerulean
Northern Parula – one seen low in shrubs (unusual) near Linville Falls, spotted by Jan.
Yellow Warbler – lower elevation near rivers
Magnolia Warbler – seen by Peg only, Trout Lake
Black-throated Blue Warbler – first seen well at the Bluffs on ridgeline trail, followed by regular wonderful sightings
Black-throated Green Warbler – a heard only, leader only seen bird – darn! We heard several, but always in thick high forests. We were closed out of its key habitat by rain at the end. Next time!
Yellow-throated Warbler – seen by Sandra and then by all at our picnic site, James River
Cerulean Warbler – quite a show, male and female, at picnic area. Heard others, but this was our best sighting
Black-and-white Warbler – seen well on several days
American Redstart – our most frequently seen warbler, both males and females, and one striking male colored yellow and orange – a delay in getting his full adult plumage
Louisiana Waterthrush – a pair near the outflow of the dam at Abbott Lake, secretive. Then a bold family feeding young near River’s Bend
Ovenbird – heard every day, seen on several days, I think finally by all – in all the thick undergrowth – it’s a challenge…
Common Yellowthroat – quick look at it skipped to another group of cattails on the shore of Abbott Lake
Hooded Warbler – all got great views of this on the South River Trail near the picnic area – so bright! Also on ridgeline trail near Bluffs and several other locations
Canada Warbler – seen at Trout Lake, and then several once in habitat along lower Parkway from overlooks
Yellow-breasted Chat – posed above our van in the Roanoke River parking area.
Scarlet Tanager – this beauty posed for all to see, in the same tree as an Indigo Bunting – wow. Seen on several days.
Northern Cardinal – lovely as ever, seen daily
Rose-breasted Grosbeak – a heard only bird – sigh.
Indigo Bunting – one of our favorites – we heard or saw one at every stop!
Blue Grosbeak – one bird, seen in ravine by restaurant near Bluffs
Rufous-sided Towhee – a common ally in gardens, lawns and trails, ever present
Chipping Sparrow – common in a great variety of habitat
Field Sparrow – heard at the edge of Big Meadows, then again in farm country
Grasshopper Sparrow – scope views, albeit far away, in farm country past the Bluffs
Song Sparrow – a tame pair posed for us at the shores of Abbott Lake
Savannah Sparrow – heard only, edge of field where we focused on finding Grasshopper sparrow…
Dark-eyed Junco – very common on the Dark Hollow Falls trail, a very tame bird joined us atop Stony Man Mtn., seen most days
Red-winged Blackbird – seen in cattails at Abbott Lake, again in smaller lake near Bass Lake
Eastern Meadowlark – seen in same farm location as other sparrows, then a surprise bird at higher elevation near Peregrine nest spot – possibly nesting.
Rusty Blackbird – seen by Abbott Lake, and small lakes throughout
Common Grackle – abundant
Brown-headed Cowbird – very common
Baltimore Oriole – what a gorgeous bird! Seen just on one day
American Goldfinch – our first visitor center stop Shenandoah and on trail near James River Gap, heard or seen several days
Pine Siskin – our rainy day atop Mount Mitchell – good sized flocks
House Sparrow – around buildings, Glascow ice cream stop,

Mammals:
White-tailed Deer
Black Bear
Bobcat
Red Squirrel
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Appalachian Cottontail
Chipmunk
Woodchuck

Reptiles and Amphibians:
Black Rat Snake
Black Racer
Copperhead

Snapping Turtle
Painted Turtle
American Toad

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