After the unpleasantness of yesterday’s blog post I needed something fresh and cheerful to get the bad taste out of my mouth. For me a singing warbler will do it every time.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Last summer I spent considerable time in the Wasatch Mountains photographing songbirds, including this singing Yellow Warbler on July 1. This bird and its mate had been extremely busy feeding several hungry fledglings but as they often do it took a short break for some cheerful song. Usually when that happens they’re at least partly buried in the vegetation and far away but this bird broke both cardinal rules (pun intended) and serenaded me from a close and exposed location.
If the warbler looks just a little scruffy, especially around the head, it had a perfectly good excuse.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Almost surely this is the same bird feeding one of its demanding youngsters a juicy green grub. Both parents were being run ragged as they tried to keep all those bellies full and it showed in their somewhat disheveled appearance. It’s only a documentary quality photo but I think it serves its purpose well enough.
I just checked the weather satellite and as of 3:40 AM there isn’t a cloud in sight. Could it really be possible that we’ve got some decent shooting weather after weeks of overcast skies?
It must be a glitch. When I look outside in the dark it’ll probably be snowing again.
Ron
What great shots, Ron! Love the first one, especially. That’s one I’d love on my wall — so bright and cheerful in spite of being overworked!
Still smoking about yesterday’s posting!!! OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!
I was hoping the warbler would put your fire out too… 🙂
One of my favorite little birds…a tiny mote of sunlight on the wing….
Agreed, they’re truly a delight, Patty.
And here I am lucky just to get a clear view of these guys with my binoculars. You broke the cardinal rules for warbler sightings and were at the right place at the right time.
Sometimes things just work out, Lyle. Thanks.
Love the first photo. Very nice. Lucky you caught the Mom feeding her baby. Sweet!
I’ll take luck whenever I can get it, Jean…
Definitely a great antidote to the bad taste in your mouth. Run ragged by demanding youngsters I am pretty sure that a)I wouldn’t look half as good and b) that ‘singing’ wouldn’t be a happening thing.
Thanks Ron – and I hope the clouds and snow stay away.
Thanks, EC. It’s been a great day around here so far – cool but beautiful.
So pretty! Warm summer colors, I love all the palettes of the seasons. I hope you had a enjoyable and successful morning in the field today.
April, not a lot of birds this morning but it was beautiful up there and I think I did get some good shots. I’m about to find out for sure…
Ron, what a wonderful way to start my day with this beautiful Yellow Warbler. I googled and found the bird singing…a treat. The sun is shining and what an uplifter.
Thanks for the photo and enjoy this beautiful day. Possibly fewer aches and pains on a day like this.
Fewer aches and pains is always a good thing, Alice. Thanks.
Very pretty birds and definitely a cheering up you needed after yesterday. Hope it was clear and that you got out there.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
Yellow Warblers will cheer me up any time disheveled or not! 🙂 The last 2 nights have been clear with “a million stars” looks VERY close! Nice day yesterday except for some wind. Mud abating, at least here, and Kildeers are back….. Hope it’s cleared out an you can go shooting! 🙂
I miss those incredibly star-filled MT nights, Judy. Yup, we had a sunny morning and I even got some shooting in.
Lovely! How can one not help but be cheerful by looking at that bird! 😍 You’re right you sometimes have to look intensely to find them. It’s that little flash of color that leads you in. That little one looks bigger than the parent! Hope you have a good day out there pursuing the joys of nature and the next great shot. Cool but clear skies here, a great day for a drive with open windows…sometimes you hear them before you see them.
That youngster actually was bigger than the adult, Kathy – as I suspect you know that’s not uncommon in birds.
Aaa, to wake up, stars are out, moon setting, beautiful day coming forth, looking on the bright side of the day, good deal! Beautiful shot of a beautiful bird.Always an uplift
My only complaint today is the wind, yes we have a few clouds, but temps are up, snow is almost all gone. Dirt roads are still almost impassable, but I’ll take the warming temps any day, just wish the wind would die down. Have a great day shooting!!
Thanks, Dick. Dirt roads are still really sloppy around here too and once you get off the valley floors there’s still lots of snow. Hope your wind dies down soon.