Pic of the Day

Louisiana Waterthrush, Parkesia motacilla

Horse cove; Madison County, Alabama

    These beautiful warblers, a member oft family Parulidae, nest around my home in North Alabama.  I constantly see them along the creek bed, but some times they fly up the hill to the house and glean around my feeders.  With a dense population nesting along the creek, their beautiful song is a constant reminder of their presence.  I was so fortunate to get this shot, because they are usually hidden in the darkest parts of the forest.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/5
1/200 sec. @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Eastern Wood Pewee, Contopus Virens

Horse Cove; Madison County, Alabama

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/60 sec. @ f/7.1: ISO 1250

Pic of the Day

Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas

Marshall County, Alabama; USA

just North of Guntersville Dam

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Yellow-breasted Cha, Icteria virens

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

    The Yellow-breasted Chat is our largest warbler at 7.2 inches in length.  It is larger than other warblers, and has a repertoire of songs that sound more like the Mockingbird.  It also has anatomical differences from New World warblers.
     While traditionally  it has always been classed with the New World warblers, it is not a Parulidae.  In 2017 the American Ornithological Society move it to its own family, the Icteridae, of which it is the only member.  The question is.  Is the Yellow-breasted Chat a warbler?  The bottom line, ornithologist really don't know.
     For me, it goes on my trip list as a warbler.  The biggest of all the warblers!

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4
1/250 sec. @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinals

Marshall County, Alabama; USA

Just North of Guntersville Dam

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/640 sec. @f/8

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Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

     While photographing a Prairie Warbler a week ago or so, this fellow alighted right beside me, allowing me to grab a couple of shots.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/640 sec. @ f/11

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina Cyanea

Marshall County, AL

just north of Guntersville Dam

When the blue of the day, meets the gold of the evening light.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea

Marshall County, Alabama; USA

Just North of Guntersville Dam

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4

1/250 sec. @ f/10, ISO1250

Pic of the Day

Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor

Marshall County, Alabama

Just North of Guntersville Dam

Another Prairie Warbler, and my favorite pose thus far from last weekends shoot.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm  f/4

1/200 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor

Marshall Co., Alabama

Prairie Warbler singing his hear out in Marshall County, Alabama last weekend.  This image was taken just north of Guntersville Dam.  Prairie Warblers nest here in North Alabama, but it has been years since I have seen one.  This bird was not shy at all, and seemed to be responding to the songs of Indigo Buntings,  and Blue Grosbeaks that were singing nearby.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/320 sec. @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea; Marshall County, AL; USA, Near Guntersville Dam

    I found this Indigo Bunting  along the tree line at the edge of a field this afternoon.  Thought not in prime breeding plumage it gave me the opportunity to shoot lots of images.  this is my favorite of the day.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/t

1/250 sec @ f/9

Pic of the Day

Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea

Magee Marsh, Ohio; May 2019

Magee Marsh

 Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga Kirtlandii:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanet:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila cerulean:  Magee Marsh, Magee Marsh Bird Center

      I spent ten days at Magee Marsh earlier this Month photographing spring migrants.  This was not the best year for Magee migrants, but I was able to get a few good images.  Northeasterly winds hindered migration, and most days were cold and rainy. While birds were less numerous I did see 114 different species, about ten less than last year, but I did get a Kirtland’s Warbler!

Kirtland's Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/320 second @ f/7.1

Bay-breasted Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/800 second @ f/7.1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/400 @ f/7.1

Great Egret, Ardea alba

Venice Bird Rookery; Vience, Florida

     It has been many years since I was at the Venice rookery, so on my latest trip through Florida I stopped to check out the activity.  The vegetation on the island is much diminished since the state removed the Brazilian Pepper shrubbery, but the rookery was a happening place.  I shot this image of a Great Egret as it flew to its nest.  I was there in the evening, but I suggest early morning as the light is much better for photography and bird watching in general.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/6400 second @ f6.3, ISO640

Pic of the Day

Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola (winter plumage)

Fort Desoto State Park; St. Petersburg, Florida

     I shot this Black-bellied plover portrait on the beaches of Fort Desoto State Park on Monday morning.  There was not a lot of activity on the beach, but this little guy was very cooperative.  It had little fear of me and came quite close.  This bird is in winter plumage.  Its summer face and underside of black, obviously white here, is quite drab compared to its breeding plumage, but I loved photographing it just as much.  Someday, maybe, I will be able to travel to its nesting grounds in the high arctic to photograph it, in all its splendor.

To learn more about the Black-bellied Plover and see the bird in its breeding plumage, go to: 

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-bellied_Plover/id

Listen to the Black-bellied Plover here:

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-bellied_Plover/id

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2000 sec. @ f9, ISO 400

Pic of the Day

Northern Mocking Bird, Mimus polyglottos:

Edinburg Scenic Wetlands; Edinburg, Texas

     Edinburg Scenic Wetlands in Edinburg, Texas is a great birding location.  It was there that I saw and photographed a Buff-bellied Hummingbird, a lifer (see post for November 19, Click Here).  While I was photographing that Buff-bellied Hummer I saw this Northern Mockingbird perched in a small tree about fifty feet from me.  Now, I grew-up in North Alabama where Mockingbirds are as common as pigeons roosting under a downtown overpass.  With that said, I have only taken a few photos of Mockingbirds, and none of them have been nice close-ups.  So when I saw this bird, I slowly made my way to its perch.  Thankfully it stayed put, and let me get some great close-ups. 

     Mockingbirds are mimickers, and sing a repertoire of just about every other bird in and around their territory.  I remember when I was a kid, walking out of the house when a killdeer gave a loud alarm call.  Startled by the call, I turned and saw a Mockingbird making the Killdeer alarm call.

     An unusual call that I once heard in a Mockingbirds repertoire years ago was that of a Whip-poor-will.  The Mockingbird was perched atop a bush singing song after song when it let go the most perfect, “whip-poor-will” I had ever heard.  It is possible that the Mockingbird gave a better “whip-poor-will,” than an actual Whip-poor-will itself.

Why to Mockingbirds Mimic?  Click Here

Want to here the Mockingbird.  Click Here

both images:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/320 second @ f6.3

Pic of the Day

Great Kiskadee, Pitagus sulphuratus:  Quinta Mazatlan; McAllen, Texas

     In the United States the Great Kiskadee is found only in the horn of Texas.  Outside of the U.S. it ranges through Mexico, Central America, and most of South America.  It is a large Tyrant Flycatcher in the genus Pitangus.  According to Wikipedia, “The call of the Great Kiskade is an exuberant “BEE-tee-WEE.”  Roger Tory Peterson, in his Field Guide to the Birds of Texas, Describes the call as: “get-ter-heck.”  In his “Field Guide to Western Birds,” he also describes the call as “kis-Ka-deer!.”  The National Geographic’s “Field Guide to the Birds of North America,” gives the call as “kis-ka-dee.”  To hear recordings of the Great Kiskadee click this link: http://birds.audubon.org/birds/great-kiskadee

     I took this photo at the bird feeding station while visiting Quinta Mazatlan, in the heart of McAllen Texas.  A couple of pairs of Kiskadees were stageing on branches before dropping to the feeders.  I also observed the birds flycatching.  By the way, when I heard the birds call, it sounded like “kis-ka-dee” to me.
     Also see post for Tuesday, November 18.  Click this link for more info on birding at Quinta Mazatlan:  www.quintamazatlan.com

Top:  Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/320 @ f6.3

Bottom: Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/250 @ f7.1