Today's Special - Warblers

It's going to be a busy weekend and I just needed some "me time" before it got busy. So rising with the sun (metaphorically speaking, I actual slept in another 30 minutes), I headed to Great Meadows to see what the day had in store for me.

I knew it was going to be a good day when I noticed this Flicker in front of the parking spot I pulled into. While I got out it was content to drill on the tree. It continued as I set up my tripod, camera and lens. As I shut the lifgate I was certain it would fly, but it continued unphased. After warming up my shutter finger on the Flicker, I headed into the refuge.

It was a quite, misty morning. Down by the river I encountered a few warblers.

Palm Warbler


If like me you don't immediately know this warbler from the front


When it turns around there is no mistaking a Yellow-rumped Warbler

After walking along the Upper Impoundment, I was on my way home to tackle my long "Honey-do" list, when I say Joan Chasan ahead busy photographing something along the trail near the kiosk. I cautiously approached, to discover that she was busy shooting a female Yellow Warbler. Well that was another first of the year bird for me, so chores would just have to wait.

Even with the warbler's constant movement and unpredicatble behaviour, it was tough not to get a few shots that were in focus without branches or leaves blocking the bird. I was almost ready to head home, when I noticed some more warblers along the edge of the parking lot.

By this time I really had shot enough warbler photos, so I started to get piggish. Just another warbler shot would no longer suffice, instead I waited for the warblers to visit some of the flowering trees along the lot's edge. I'm glad I did. A male Yellow Warbler danced among the white and pink flowers. My favorite is the first one which reminds me of a Japanese watercolor painting

If you are not excited by warblers, I did see a few other things as I walked around including.

A different Flicker near the Upper Impoundment outflow canal to the river


A ubiquitous Red-winged Blackbird. I was struck how this photo catches all the detail in all those black feathers


This male Wood Duck's eye looks like a toy glass marble eye


Who can resist photographing a Song Sparrow when the background is this perfect


I dare not try to identify this bird, but it is nesting high in the trees down near the "Poison Ivy" bench