Spring migration is slow this year in Maryland, but it hasn’t stopped me to keep trying to keep adding to the list for my Big Year.
Those who have been following me for a while have probably wondered why all of sudden tons of birds have appeared. Well, I must confess that as a novel birder, I had decided this year was going to be my big year in birding.
Granted, I should be traveling more to see a wider variety of birds, but I’ve been having great fun on these quiet adventure hunts for these amazingly beautiful birds that I never knew even existed. I’m also discovering some hidden nooks and crannies in my county that are natural treasures that I never would have known were there if it hadn’t been for the birds.
Since today has been pouring rain, I wanted to share with you some of the golden nuggets I found yesterday at Patuxent Ponds Park. I had heard of a Hooded Warbler, and I really wanted to get a good view of one. With my little iBird app on my iPhone, I began playing his song. Quickly responding, we began singing alternately. He came in for a view and fluttered around high in the trees. This was the best I could get.
Hooded Warbler
In a stretch of lower scrub brush, I spent quite some time stalking several bird songs that were beautiful. I had heard that a Prairie Warbler was in the park, so I began playing his song. Quickly appearing and quite inquisitive, I was able to get some great views of this stunning migrator.
Prairie Warbler
I’ve been finding White Eye Vireo in several places, and they just love to sing their hearts out.
White Eye Vireo
White Eye Vireo
I even was able to capture an Eastern Kingbird, which I had seen at the barn a couple of weeks ago. Once I found one, I thought it would be the only time I would see one. But I happily was able to enjoy this Kingbird who sat high on a tree after chasing off an American Crow.
Eastern King Bird
But the real treasure for the day was this incredibly beautiful yellow Warbler known as the Prothonotary Warbler. This required extensive stalking of the marsh for a half an hour, playing ping pong songs with him. He finally drew in closer to see who was visiting. A brief moment, hand holding the 500mm lens, I was able to capture him through the trees.
Prothonotary Warbler
These images were shot in misty conditions with my Canon 60D, and 500mm f/4.0 L IS lens. When I came home I thought all those little dust bits were just that dust. But after checking the lens today, I realized the bits are actually the mist. I’m not crazy about the Canon 60D when it comes to how it handles noise. The ISO setting for these images were 1000 and 1250. A little negative compensation exposure gave me faster shutter speeds.
Hope you enjoyed these little treasures as much as I do.
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Annapolis, Birds, Foot Prints, Maryland Area Hikes, Nature, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
They are really good Emily. I can hear some singing too. 🙂
You have no idea what it takes to find these. They sing away in the full trees and hide on the other side. Some just taunt you and you never seen them!
Very beautiful Emily. Birds are a favorite of mine and these are different than I usually see.
That is awesome I was able to share some new birds with you.
Very beautiful, very enjoyable.
Thanks Charlie ! So happy you enjoyed these.
I sure do things the hard way, I track the little buggers down the old fashioned way. Calling them in using your iPhone seems much easier, and you get better photos. 😉
Well…the better pics story, you know that one. With your new kit I expect great things. The Prairie warbler is really inquisitive to the calling. Others, not so much! I don’t use the call back all the time though and do it only briefly. No need to stress the birds out.
You always add beauty to my day!! Thank you, Emily…
It is truly my pleasure Rebecca. Walk in nature with me.
I look forward to our walks… 🙂
All these beautiful birds – so excellent captured – what a hard work I guess… 🙂
You have no idea how much work it takes to capture these. But well worth it once you get it!
Beautiful. I adore watching the birds, haven’t had the chance to try and photograph them yet. These photo’s are stunning.
You are so kind Jo! Thank you so much for your kind comment, and keep bird watching. You will always have the memory.
Thank you again for showing us some very cool birds! I’ll have to see if there is an Android bird call app! 🙂
I’m sure the iBird is available for Android. I’m waiting for the bird call recognition App “MyBird” which I think is due out at the end of the year. Can’t wait for that one!
I join you in your passion for bird watching. Only this Monday bank holiday just gone (6th May), my husband and I visited the wonderful Arundel Wetland Centre in West Sussex, where we live, and we discovered some beautiful new birds we’d never seen before, including the reed warblers, and there was even a Red Kite flying over our heads, which are unusual in this area! We spent 2 magical hours there and intend to go back soon.
Your photos are amazing, as always. Please, keep sharing. 🙂
Oh WOW ! Did you take any pictures of your birds? I bet you have some wonderful birds I’ve never seen.
Yes, I did take pictures (over 100!), but not of the warblers as they did not sit on the branches for long and they were not close enough to photograph, but we are just very glad to have seen them.
Oh I hope you share some. Warblers are really hard ! They do move constantly.
I am not sure if I can post pictures on you blog, but I could do a sort of pdf file for them I suppose and send the link to that!
No..do a post ! I bet your readers would lovoe it!
OK!
Oh my how cool and I thought I was the only one! Love the photography, these shots are amazingly clear and with great poses. I call out to our birds, both cardinals and flycatchers and they too come swooping in settling in the trees overhead and then we go back n’ forth. It’s a lot of fun – I don’t usually tell about my unusual calling card (lol).
Oh you can call birds? That’s amazing ! I’m not that good. There is a girl in Texas that does amazing bird calls. Have you heard of her?
http://www.bird-calling.com/
Makes me sound a little odd doesn’t it, but I hear them every day all day long. I figured out which bird is calling and it means. The birds know when I’m outside and they get pretty close to me – especially when I’m in the garden. I learned to listen for their warning for when snakes are around – amazing, the birds have saved me on a number of occasions.
Terrific shots of these beauties Emily all in wonderful settings!
Thank you so much Phil ! I tell you, birding in spring is HARD !!
Great bird images! I’ve been practicing my bird IDs/songs the past few weeks for the upcoming survey season. It’s so fun when they talk back and come down from the trees for a visit! What a wonderful group to add to your collection.
Do you call yourself? That’s amazing ! There’s no way I could do that. Thank you so much for your kind words.
No, sorry for giving you the wrong impression! The Audubon Bird App is my friend!
Wonderful!! What lovelies…. So very different, so petite and delicate, I just adore their brightness!
Some of these to hang out in Northern Florida in winter. So happy to share them with you. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE your captures. Big years are a lot of fun and it looks like you’re off to a GREAT start!
You are too kind Maya. I’m getting there, but surely a road trip to some exotic place like Texas would really put me over the top.:-)
Texas is like being a kid in a candy store. I don’t know the condition of High Island after the last hurricane but it was birding Mecca in the spring. I hope you get a chance to get there, and the Rio Grande Valley. You will LOVE it!
I know!! Texas is crazy amazing with birds. Perhaps winter time.