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10/27/12
The last of this fall’s warbler crop
Filed under: General, Birding & Outdoors, Florida & SE US, Illinois, Birding "Patches", Wild Bird Wednesday, Bird D'pot
Posted by: Ken @ 7:09 am

Just before departing Florida for our second home in Illinois, we managed one final walk in our local wetlands patch. Warblers were still coming through, but not in great numbers. On some days Northern Parulas were common, but we saw only a few.

Northern Parula 3-20121014

They all were brightly colored males. Their foraging habits are methodical, as they usually explore one limb at a time, starting at the base of a branch and working out to the very tip. They sometimes emerge into plain view before flying to the next branch, providing photo opportunities.
 

Northern Parula 4-20121014

Prairie Warblers are seen here all year, but their numbers are swollen during migration and winter by temporary visitors. They also tend to spend much time in a small area of a tree, but are not as predictable in their movements.

Prairie Warbler 20121018

In quite the opposite fashion, the movements of American Redstarts are totally unpredictable. Many of my attempts to photograph them produce only empty branches. This sweet little female redstart paused just long enough for me to capture her beauty and energy.

American Redstart 20121012

This fall, Black-throated Blue Warblers have been favored subjects. The
males have strongly contrasting blue, black and white plumage. They often appeared in small same-species flocks.

Black-throated Blue Warbler male 5-20121009

I really liked the feather detail in this pose.

Black-throated Blue Warbler male 20121009

Warblers are attracted to fruiting shrubs, usually for the insects they attract, but both the parulas and this Black-throated Blue Warbler have a taste for privet berries.

Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens 3-20121022

Female Black-throated Blue Warblers do not resemble the males except for the white mark on each wing.

Black-throated Blue Warbler female 20121009

The face pattern of females is distinctive.

Black-throated Blue Warbler female 4-20121009

Two Yellow-throated Warblers showed up on our final walk. This was only the second time I had seen this species in our patch.

Yellow-throated Warbler 20121022

Common Yellowthroats were, well, common! Usually shy and retiring, their movements are difficult to track as they creep through the low shrubs and tall grasses. The fruiting privet (Ligustrum sp.) lured them into the open, but they seemed interested only in the associated numerous spiders and other insects.

Common Yellowthroat 2-20121020

The female yellowthroat lacks the black mask of the male.

Common Yellowthroat 20121020

Palm Warblers have arrived and will be here all winter. Our local visitors belong to the drab western subspecies. Interestingly, their migratory path crosses that of the more colorful eastern population, which winters in Texas and Mexico.

Palm Warbler 20121022

The Palm Warbler’s long legs are an adaptation to its habit of foraging on the ground.  Early morning light enhanced the color of this one.

Palm Warbler 20121020

Another long-legged warbler, the Ovenbird, walked up almost to my feet before I saw it.

Ovenbird 4-20121016

We departed Florida before seeing our first Yellow-rumped Warbler, the avian equivalent of the “fat lady” who sings at the end of the opera. Migration is not over until the “butterbuts” appear. We did catch this one the first morning after we arrived in NE Illinois, at local Nelson Lake. Sure enough, it was the only warbler we encountered there.

Yellow-rumped Warbler 20121025

Of course, we saw many other interesting birds besides warblers during our final week in Florida. A Bell’s Vireo showed up once before, in October of 2009. Although it is a western species, it is a rare but fairly regular visitor to South Florida during spring and fall migrations

Bells Vireo1 20121009

A pair of Common Ground-Doves posed in the early morning sun.

Common Ground-Doves 20121016

Blue Jays collected Live Oak acorns from the bumper crop.

Blue Jay portrait 20121021

Blue-gray Gnatcatchers can be a pesky distraction when we confuse them with the warblers as they they flit among the branches. However, they also seem to be “magnets” for other migrants, perhaps alerting them to food sources.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 20121022

Bald Eagles regularly pass overhead just after sunrise, traveling from their nest area two miles to the north, to hunt for fish and water birds in the large lake in our subdivision. They are out earlier on clear mornings, probably because of better visibility.

Bald Eagle 0738-18 AM 20121010

The songbirds fell silent as a Cooper’s Hawk flew overhead.

Coopers Hawk 2-20121022

A single adult Wood Stork has visited our backyard lake several times during the past month. As if to bid us adieu on the morning of our last day in Florida, a flock of six flew in while it was still dark. I had to wait to take these shots. By then only one remained on our back lawn and the others had flown to the other side of the lake.

Wood Stork 20121023

Wood Storks 2-20121023

25 Responses to “The last of this fall’s warbler crop”

  1. Barry N Heimlich Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 9:08 am A wonderful collection. Your photos are stunning. The picture that impressed me the most is the closeup of the Blue Jay that shows his feathers in incredible detail.
  2. TexWisGirl Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 2:47 pm love those silly wood storks! but that black-throated blue warbler stole the show today! gorgeous birds!!!
  3. Laurence Butler Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 3:28 pm Sweet stuff Ken, truly exceptional photography, great work!
  4. Pat Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 5:35 pm Love the storks on the fence! Your photography is just wonderful.
  5. Lighthousegal Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 10:25 pm Wow, what an Amazing collection of bird shots. You captured them so close up and detailed. Their color shows so well in your shots. Absolutely amazing! Happy Sunday!
  6. Stewart M Says:
    October 27th, 2012 at 11:21 pm Hi there - I never ceased to be amazed be the variety of the warblers that you get in the US - remarkable. Stewart M - Australia
  7. Hanne Bente Says:
    October 28th, 2012 at 1:06 am Great image series showing some incredibly beautiful birds. Many of the birds you show does not live in this country - we have not so many colorful / exotic birds. Thanks for your comment on my blog - appreciate it. Wish you a good Sunday :) Hanne Bente
  8. phil uk Says:
    October 28th, 2012 at 1:50 am You take some great shots of the warblers Ken, especially considering how tiny and active they are. Guess it helps enormously that you have clearly studied their feeding habits and habitat preferences. Wish more birders would do that.
  9. Boom & Gary Says:
    October 28th, 2012 at 1:45 pm Beautiful series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
  10. Boom & Gary Says:
    October 28th, 2012 at 1:46 pm Great series!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
  11. Richard Says:
    October 28th, 2012 at 8:29 pm Great photos and text, Ken. I appreciate the details.
  12. Eileen Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 2:35 am Love all the warbler shots, wonderful collection of birds. Great post, ken!
  13. Julie G. Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 8:46 am Exquisite photographs of lovely birds! I’m in awe of all your fabulous warbler images, each shot so beautifully captured. Fantastic detail and color. How fortunate you are to see such stunning birds at your local wetlands patch. Glorious!
  14. Modesto Viegas Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 9:31 am Great series!!! Good post!
  15. Brian King Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 9:35 am You got some fantastic warbler shots! I’m lucky to see any, much less photograph them. The eagle and hawk flight photos are outstanding! Love those!
  16. EG CameraGirl , Canada Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 9:47 am You sure do get great shots of warblers!
  17. Mick Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 12:39 pm All very beautiful birds.
  18. Adam Jones Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 2:24 pm A truly amazing set of pictures. The Black-throated Blue Warbler is my favourite though.
  19. Neil Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 3:42 pm Great post so many beautiful birds.
  20. Sallie (FullTime Life) Says:
    October 30th, 2012 at 5:33 pm Wonderful birds…we don’t see a lot of perching birds when we’re in Florida…. Aren’t you going the wrong way this time of year? We’re just thinking about heading TO Florida for the winter.
  21. Kerri Says:
    October 31st, 2012 at 4:36 am Fantastic series! Your images are awesome!!!
  22. Mary Howell Cromer Says:
    October 31st, 2012 at 4:59 am These are all just wonderful, but my absolute favorites are of all of the beautiful songbirds…very sweet faces on every one captured splendidly~
  23. Wally Says:
    October 31st, 2012 at 11:23 am Terrific images! I seemed to be late to the party everywhere I went looking for warblers this year. Everyone said, “you should have SEEN all the birds here yesterday!”. On the other hand, it’s great to be able to get outside anytime! Have a safe trip! -Wally (Tampa area)
  24. Nigel Monckton Says:
    October 31st, 2012 at 4:09 pm So much variety - I’m well jealous. Well captured throughout.
  25. Ken Says:
    November 4th, 2012 at 2:00 pm Thank you, all, for visiting and leaving comments. I’ve visited (or in some cases unsuccessfully attempted to comment on) your web sites, and enjoyed them all.

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