Palm Warbler photo by: Andrew Rapp
Warbler Migration Hotspots: Near and Far
We are very fortunate to have some prime locations locally and within the state to, with effort, find all 36 species of eastern Warblers, plus a variety of other Netotropical migrants (known as Neotrops) including empidonax and other Flycatchers, and Vireos.
The Rockfish Valley Trail in Nelson County is an ideal spot to find many a variety of migrating warblers, migrating flycatchers and breeding sparrows, as is Ivy Creek Natural Area in Charlottesville. Stony Point Pass Road in eastern Albemarle County is a great spot to find a variety of migrating and even breeding warblers.
Near Roanoke in Botetourt County, a road fondly coined Warbler Road brings much delight to those seeking to spot a wide variety of migrating warblers. In Rockingham County, Long Run Road which is coined "Rockingham County's Warbler Road" is home to an array of breeding warblers, and is also an excellent road to explore for migrating Warblers and other Neotrops. Nearby Slate Lick Fields is a great location to find breeding Yellow-breasted Chat and some other breeding and migrating Warblers.
In Augusta County, there are many great birding hotspots. Route 610 is known as "Augusta County's Warbler Road" and is another terrific place for breeding as well as migrating warblers. Other notable Augusta County locations for Warblers include Hite Hollow Road, Augusta Springs Wetlands, and Swoope (specially for Yellow Warblers)
Just about anywhere in Shenandoah National Park you can find a variety of migrating and breeding warblers. A few good spots for some uncommon warblers such as Kentucky, Cerulean, and Canada include: Snead Farm Trail in the northern end of the park, near the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. In the Central District of the park the Pocosin Mission Trail is awesome, and the Limberlost Trail isn't too shabby either. In the northern end of the south district, the area around Hightop Parking Area can be good for warblers and other neotrops, especially Kentucky Warblers.
Further abroad in Virginia, to the west, Highland County is a must go to area, especially a specific private property for rare breeding Golden-winged Warblers (contact club president Gabriel Mapel at birdmangabriel@yahoo.com for more information), Straight Fork for a variety of warblers plus Virginia's only breeding Alder Flycatchers, and Paddy Knob for Mourning Warblers and other neotrops. To the east, Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a great spot for Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers. A little bit further south, the Great Dismal Swamp is fantastic for Swainson's Warblers and a variety of other birds. Field Trips Coordinator Andrew Rapp has gone here several times and says it is a fantastic area.
Out of state, you may want to consider a trip to Magee Marsh in Ohio for the Biggest Week in American Birding. This week long festival attracts thousands of people each year, providing guided walks and bus trips to the area warbler hotspots. As part of the festivities there is a young birders day on a Saturday of the festival. Club president Gabriel Mapel has travelled numerous times to this area for the Biggest Week and is always delighted with the up close showeing of birds at this festival, as they stop to feed on the low trees and shrubs before crossing Lake Erie on their way to Canada. In addition to great looks of Warblers with no "Warbler Neck", a treat about Magee Marsh is the vast variety (there has been a day where all 37 eastern warblers have been seen!) and chance for rarities (Townsend's Warbler has beens seen, and the very rare Kirtland's Warbler is seen annually).
In West Virginia, you may want to consider the New River Birding and Nature Festival at the end of April.
Wherever your search for warblers takes you, we hope you enjoy these magnificent and musical birds.
We are very fortunate to have some prime locations locally and within the state to, with effort, find all 36 species of eastern Warblers, plus a variety of other Netotropical migrants (known as Neotrops) including empidonax and other Flycatchers, and Vireos.
The Rockfish Valley Trail in Nelson County is an ideal spot to find many a variety of migrating warblers, migrating flycatchers and breeding sparrows, as is Ivy Creek Natural Area in Charlottesville. Stony Point Pass Road in eastern Albemarle County is a great spot to find a variety of migrating and even breeding warblers.
Near Roanoke in Botetourt County, a road fondly coined Warbler Road brings much delight to those seeking to spot a wide variety of migrating warblers. In Rockingham County, Long Run Road which is coined "Rockingham County's Warbler Road" is home to an array of breeding warblers, and is also an excellent road to explore for migrating Warblers and other Neotrops. Nearby Slate Lick Fields is a great location to find breeding Yellow-breasted Chat and some other breeding and migrating Warblers.
In Augusta County, there are many great birding hotspots. Route 610 is known as "Augusta County's Warbler Road" and is another terrific place for breeding as well as migrating warblers. Other notable Augusta County locations for Warblers include Hite Hollow Road, Augusta Springs Wetlands, and Swoope (specially for Yellow Warblers)
Just about anywhere in Shenandoah National Park you can find a variety of migrating and breeding warblers. A few good spots for some uncommon warblers such as Kentucky, Cerulean, and Canada include: Snead Farm Trail in the northern end of the park, near the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center. In the Central District of the park the Pocosin Mission Trail is awesome, and the Limberlost Trail isn't too shabby either. In the northern end of the south district, the area around Hightop Parking Area can be good for warblers and other neotrops, especially Kentucky Warblers.
Further abroad in Virginia, to the west, Highland County is a must go to area, especially a specific private property for rare breeding Golden-winged Warblers (contact club president Gabriel Mapel at birdmangabriel@yahoo.com for more information), Straight Fork for a variety of warblers plus Virginia's only breeding Alder Flycatchers, and Paddy Knob for Mourning Warblers and other neotrops. To the east, Dutch Gap Conservation Area is a great spot for Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers. A little bit further south, the Great Dismal Swamp is fantastic for Swainson's Warblers and a variety of other birds. Field Trips Coordinator Andrew Rapp has gone here several times and says it is a fantastic area.
Out of state, you may want to consider a trip to Magee Marsh in Ohio for the Biggest Week in American Birding. This week long festival attracts thousands of people each year, providing guided walks and bus trips to the area warbler hotspots. As part of the festivities there is a young birders day on a Saturday of the festival. Club president Gabriel Mapel has travelled numerous times to this area for the Biggest Week and is always delighted with the up close showeing of birds at this festival, as they stop to feed on the low trees and shrubs before crossing Lake Erie on their way to Canada. In addition to great looks of Warblers with no "Warbler Neck", a treat about Magee Marsh is the vast variety (there has been a day where all 37 eastern warblers have been seen!) and chance for rarities (Townsend's Warbler has beens seen, and the very rare Kirtland's Warbler is seen annually).
In West Virginia, you may want to consider the New River Birding and Nature Festival at the end of April.
Wherever your search for warblers takes you, we hope you enjoy these magnificent and musical birds.