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.
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
