Good Pictures of Warblers? Prove it

In putting together this collection of pictures, I noticed a similarity to the last collection of warbler photos I  posted.  However, I will say that while trees feature prominently in both sets of photos.  But that is just a good indicator of the habitat of warblers.  Many of our Warblers are denizens of the thick arboreal forests of the Canadian north.  This means that they enjoy leaf canopies and the insects that inhabit that kind of environment.  We only get to share a few weeks out of the year with many of these guys as they head through so make sure to enjoy it!

The photos presented are the work of a lot of patience, knowledge of habitat, and did I mention patience.  Warbler photos are priceless and magical because of that.  They really capture moments in time and moments in life as they display the abilities and wonders of every bird.  So take a look and enjoy my photos!  Let me know which is favorite and which warbler you would love to snap a picture of!   Until next time, get outside and go birding!

Blackpoll Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Blue-Winged Warbler

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Wild Bird Wednesday - Link here

The Education of Mr. Sibley and his Guide

I am finally getting around to posting a review of the new edition of the Sibley Guide.  I was lucky enough that a local Audubon Chapter and Bird Shop hosted David himself to present his new book and all the work he's done recently.  The talk began with Mr Sibley beginning to talk about how he became interested in making a bird guide. From a young age, Sibley enjoyed drawing birds and was encouraged by several people.  In College, he found the education lacking and decided to pursue the observation of birds as a full-time pursuit.  Once again, Sibley found himself, albeit with some time, supported and encouraged.  His passions and dedication to art continued to become more apparent.  I wondered how different the world would be if more and more people received the same encouragement/patience/opportunity as Sibley had.  Quite different indeed...

But to the guide.  The first thing that hits when you look at the new guide are the colors.  The colors are much more vivid and the contrasts are more stark in comparison to the first edition.  While I could go on and complain about specific colors, I think that I will focus on how much better and clear writings and descriptions paired with better and clearer field markers.  While the pictures are great, the writings are what really stood out to be in this guide.  Check out the first few pages on gulls and flycatchers if you want to see the guide at its best!  Sibley's Guide to Birds is a great part of anyone's library.  Until the next time, get outside and go birding!

Hearing the Author speak

Sibley Guides - Link here

Menunkatuck Audubon Society - Link here

The Audubon Shop, Madison -  Link here

An Ode to Photos of Warblers

This is an ode to the thousands of photos I have to Warblers.  While I do have some that allow you to see the field marks, see the contrast of colors, and even enjoy the true beauty of the bird.  But sadly, those views can be rare and grabbing those pictures can be even rarer.  This is an ode to the difficult photos of warblers out there.  The Silouettes, the half shots, the partials wings, and tail views of birds fill my computer and external hard drive.

Why do most photos of warblers end up as partials or fragments of the birds they represent?  Well, warblers are tiny, fast, and often live at the tops of trees.  That means that good warbler pictures have to overcome those challenges.  Sometimes you can (and I will give you all some good pictures next time) but today is all about those pictures that drive us crazy.  So take a look, sympathize and let's move on and just enjoy the fact that we get to share some more time with warblers as they move on to their breeding grounds.  Until the next time warblers, go birding!

American Redstart

Backlight Bay-Breasted Warbler

Can you find the Cape May Warbler?

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday - Link here

2014 Year Birds: 241 (9 to go!)

CT Year Birds: 225 (GOAL!)

Life List: 342 (58 to go!)

Accidental Big Day

So this past Weekend, I found myself doing something I had never done before.  After a productive stop at Bent of the River Audubon Center (link here) where I had over 50+ species of birds, I thought to myself after a friend mentioned it, if I could break 100 in a day.  Well, I tried and I did.  It wasn't a really planned big day and in fact, if i could do it all over again, I would structure my day a little differently.  But all that being said, I had a rather good day.  I've included my list and some photos from the day below.

Until the next time, get outside and go birding!

Brant

Canada Goose

Mallard

Green-winged Teal

Common Merganser

Wild Turkey

Common Loon

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Osprey

Bald Eagle

American Oystercatcher

Black-bellied Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Piping Plover

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Willet

Upland Sandpiper  FOY

Ruddy Turnstone

Dunlin

Least Sandpiper

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Short-billed Dowitcher

Ring-billed Gull

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Least Tern

Common Tern

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Barred Owl

Chimney Swift

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Willow Flycatcher  FOY

Eastern Phoebe

Great Crested Flycatcher  FOY

Eastern Kingbird

Blue-headed Vireo  FOY

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Blue Jay

American Crow

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Tree Swallow

Bank Swallow FOY

Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow FOY

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

White-breasted Nuthatch

House Wren

Carolina Wren

Eastern Bluebird

Wood Thrush

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Ovenbird FOY

Worm-eating Warbler

Louisiana Waterthrush

Blue-winged Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Hooded Warbler FOY

American Redstart

Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler FOY

Blackburnian Warbler FOY

Yellow Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler FOY

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Prairie Warbler FOY

Black-throated Green Warbler FOY

Canada Warbler FOY

Wilson's Warbler FOY

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow FOY

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow FOT

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting FOY

Bobolink FOY

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Baltimore Oriole

American Goldfinch

House Sparrow

Canada Warbler, a first for CT for me

Short-Billed Dowitcher

Lincoln's Sparrow

Ovenbird

Bobolink, another CT first for me

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday

The Non-Warbler Special: Shorebirds

While warbler neck begins to strike the Birders of North America, other poor birds are ignored.  This tragedy can be reserved though.  Don't just look up, take some time and look down.  While walking a trail in a Connecticut Warbler Hotspot, I found a Solitary Sandpiper strutting around.  It was a great find for me in a park most noted for its warblers.

Its worth checking out a beach or two over the next few weeks.  Lots of birds will be using beaches to prepare for nesting and as staging grounds for migration.  They are important habitats for any number of species.  They are also hotly contested areas too.  Developers also see them as key habitats.  But that is a bit off topic.  Enjoy the Warblers and enjoy all the birds!

Happy Mothers Day and Go Birding!

Snowy Egret and a Yellowlegs!

Solitary Sandpiper

Silhouette of a Solitary Sandpiper

Spring-ing into Action

Spring is here, although some of the temps up here in the Northeast may fool you.  Birds are definitely moving through and some real rarities are popping up.  I dipped out on a Yellow-Throated Warbler that appeared at a local park but I am so excited to get all the great birds that are going to start moving through our state and across the continent.  With migration here, you should expect a lot more pictures of warblers on this blog, but I thought I would wrap up this post with a couple of useful tips for this migration season.

Know Your Habitat - Knowing what kind of habitat can help eliminate some species and help you figure out what to look for.

Know Your Trees - Similar to above, some birds like certain trees.  Knowing if you are looking at a cedar instead of a pine or a oak can help you eliminate one or two possibilities.

Listen First - Constantly listen as you walk.  Try to distinguish between the various calls and sounds you hear around you.

Check Flocks - If you know that the group of 6 Yellow-Rumps is just a group of Yellow-Rumps instead of just guessing, you are sure not to miss an odd bird.

Walk Light and Check the Trail Ahead - Don't go stomping like a mad person.  You will miss great views and sounds if you make a lot of noise.  You will even be able to catch some birds on the trail posing if you can be quiet enough.

More pictures coming soon!  In the meantime, get out and go birding!

Pine Warbler

Eastern Cottontail ... Warbler?

Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher

Next Time More Warblers!

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday