One of the easier warblers to spot and hear, American Redstarts are great to encounter. They sing loudly, flash their tail-feathers to attract suitors or surprise insects, and add a splash of color to our woods.
Redstarts Rock!
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Author Archives: Richard
Yellow Warblers
Another challenging bird to photograph, Yellow Warblers are easy to spot, often at eye level, and have an easy to recognize song. (“sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet”) If they’d only stop moving, never pausing to catch a breath. We are lucky to have some great habitat right around us to see them. Here is one feeding the other morning.
Here is a shot from our backyard last year.
It’s great to see and hear these bouncy birds in our neighborhood.
Common Yellowthroats
When I think about photographing warblers, the Common Yellowthroat pops up as an ongoing challenge. Everywhere with their “witchety-witchety-witchety” call they are usually buried in bushes and always on the move. This gives you the idea:
Yellowthroats stay low so you avoid “warbler neck” while watching them. Energy-filled and easy to spot, they are a wonderful part of our birding outings. Here’s a video that is sure to bring you a smile.
Perching Birds
Usually I go out birding with no objective other than to get some exercise and see what’s happening avian-wise. This morning, after finding this Common Merganser perched on a log, I decided to see what else I could find — perching. Here’s the results from a productive hour just up the road from our home.
Mid-May Birding
Every day, new birds are arriving – it’s a great time for birding. Yesterday, I drove into a parking spot at Ginger’s play group and rolled down the window to get this hummer.
This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and his mate are driving our neighbors crazy with their constant drilling on the sheet metal shed roof.
Canada Geese are raising youngsters all along the river.
One of the delightful new arrivals are the Warbling Vireos, like the one I saw early this morning.
I have gathered a few warbler shots and will post them next time. It’s definitely a work in progress.
Productive Friday
Ginger and I took an early 3 mile walk along the river and ended up seeing/hearing nearly forty bird species. I was trying to get some exercise so we didn’t stop too often for photos.
There’s a lot of courting and chasing going on – and this couple needed to “get a room.”
My next objective is to tackle the warblers. It’s fun to hear and see them this time of year but they are always moving, often hidden by branches, and they test my patience. Stay tuned.
Back Home
A lot of birds arrived during our trip to North Carolina. On the first morning back, I had a wonderful outing.
Many birds were singing including warblers (Yellow, Black & White, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped, and Common Yellowthroat) and at the end of the walk, this American Robin was singing its heart out. So it made it into the photos.
NC Wildlife
We are on a road trip to North Carolina for a week, visiting the Outer Banks. Here are a few shots from today:
Outings
While most of my outings involve birding – usually 1-3 miles on trails, roads, and city sidewalks, I also get out for the exercise, fresh air and nature, away from others.
The trails we walk have many trees with all sorts of growths and shapes, like these ones.
Last week, I spotted this different lump in a tree.
One of my favorite downed trees reminds me of a Green Heron hunting for food.
A backcountry beaver pond from which two shy Wood Ducks flushed.
And my birding buddy, muddy legs and all, is always ready for the next outing.
As we wait for the warblers to arrive, there’s always neat stuff to enjoy on our walks.
Another day, another eagle
Early yesterday morning, while out with Ginger on our back path, I noticed this young eagle perched in a tree across the river. I’m sure it’s the same one I saw a week ago at the reservoir.
This morning, at the reservoir, I saw this eagle again, waiting right next to the parking area. I never get tired of seeing these birds.
