Pic of the Day

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica:  Magee Marsh, Ohio

(taken during "The Biggest Week in American Birding")

     This image was taken along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh a few weeks ago.  Magee is the one of the few spots I know where you can get up close and personal with these beautiful neotropical migrants.  However getting images without branches in the way is difficult.  I have found that pre-focusing on an open spot of a branch that the bird is moving, then shooting as the bird passes through the spot is the best way to get an image.  This warbler, happen to perch in the spot for a few seconds to look around allowing me to get a variety of poses.  This was my favorite frame.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1000second @ f/8

Pic of the Day

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica:  Magee Marsh, Ohio

     Magee Marsh is about the best place in the country to photograph migrating warblers.  I shot this Chestnut-sided warbler only a few feet from the boardwalk as it munched down an insect.  If you love watching these little jewels you must visit Magee Marsh.  I have found the best time to visit to be between, May 7-21.  Warblers are not the only draw at Magee.  You will also find Grosbeaks, Orioles, Thrushes­­, and an abundance of other passerines.  I’m looking forward to getting back this coming spring.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1000 second @ f/5.6

Pic of the Day

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica:

Magee Marsh, Ohio

     I shot this image in the spring at Magee Marsh, Just east of Oregon, Ohio.  This little guy was flitting through the dew-covered foliage looking for insects.  Over the last two weeks I have seen a lot of Chestnut-sided Warblers moving south.  They are in their fall plumage, but still just as beautiful.

Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f2.8 1/320 second @ f6.3

Pic of the Day

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica: Magee Marsh, Ohio

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Dendroica pensylvanica: Magee Marsh, Ohio

     When the warblers arrive at Magee Marsh they are ravenous, leaping from branch to branch searching for any morsel of food that they can find.  I photographed this Chestnut-sided as he snatched an insect from under a leaf during its search.  Magee is a very important stopover for Neotropical migrants during migration.  Its wooded acreage provides thousands upon thousands of migrating birds essential nourishment needed to continue their journey north.

     Warblers at Magee are difficult to photograph.  Though they are many in number, they are extremely active as the flit to and fro.  They never seem to stay in one place for more than a second. I take hundreds of photographs hoping to get a few good images.

All Photos: Nikon D800, Nikkor 300mm f2.8, 1/1000 second @ F5.6