Yellow Billed Cuckoo
It’s been too long since I’ve been able to sneak out to look for birds. So a pre-dawn departure had me arrive as the sun rose over Cromwell Valley Park, just north of Baltimore.
The bunnies were out nibbling on the grass, and the deer were skittish when they saw me. But shortly after the light set in, a great look at this Yellow Billed Cuckoo was a pleasant surprise.
This trip was for warblers as this park had recent reports of some good migrants. Has anyone ever told you that warblers love being high in the trees? Not only are they little, they also like to hide behind leaves way-way-up-high.
I kept looking up, and a neck crick soon set in. So I walked a little further down the trail and saw a pair of trees that had a flurry of activity. A small flock of Baltimore Orioles played Hide-and-Seek with me.
Baltimore Oriole
I did manage to find two warblers – a Magnolia, and a Chestnut Sided Warbler. I did do the victory dance, and figured the neck ache was worth it. Even this American Redstart made an appearance.
Magnolia Warbler
Chestnut Sided Warbler – Female
American Redstart – Male
Catbirds were abound, making sounds quite like the sound you hear in the Monty Python movie – the Holy Grail. Don’t know if you remember the scene when they are riding into town, and a townswoman is beating a rug with a cat. Meow ! Meow ! Well, that’s exactly what this catbird sounds like.
Catbirds
After awhile, the birds had enough of being stalked and gave me the wave-off. That’s okay though, as it was starting to heat up and the dogs started showing up at the park.
Wood Pewee
Hope you’re having fun this weekend too! Bella
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Birds, Nature
Emily Carter Mitchell ~ Nature as Art 
I love your nature projects.
LOL ! Thanks ! Now I need a good neck rub.
I love the bird photos! Where do you find such beautiful birds? And what’s the focal length of your lens?
Blessings,
Judy
This is at Cromwell Valley Park. Just up the road from Baltimore. With the 500mm, 1.4xx and cropping in post. 🙂
Wow!
Excellent photos! You had so much better luck than I did today, and I was out at sunrise. Nary a bird photo save one bad one of a wood duck hiding.
Yeah..where are the birds? I really had to work to get these.
Your bird photos are great. I find them difficult to do – especially the little flighty ones. 🙂
If you had any idea how hard I worked today Pat to get these. I even got out of breath ! LOL ! Thank you so much.
really wonderful !!
So happy that you enjoyed these captures Linda. Thank you!
I’m impressed at your speed and focus on capturing these feathered friends 🙂
If you only knew about the number of missed shots I get because these birds move so fast. Lots of curse words follow. 🙂 Practice my dear.