My Birds, Part II

I will end this session with one of my buddies - Tufted Titmouse. Here he/she is performing it's song here.

Here he/she is sitting and checking out the area.

Ummm, I think you might be, Al. It's the middle of the afternoon here. LOL. Love the titmouse.

You sure are getting nice opportunities with your birds. Love them all.

Ooops Margaret forgot the time difference.

Thanks Margaret and Burn.

Well, I decided to visit a local spot (Monticello Park in Alexandria, VA) that's a haven for migratory warblers and other not always seen by me birds. Some have arrived, but not the migration has not fully blossomed; however, I did get a lifter...Blue-headed Vireo. The photo isn't the best, but under the lighting condition and the distant from the bird this was the best I could muster. I plan to hit this spot quite a bit this spring during migration to try and capture some of the rare birds.

Again, the Blue-headed Vireo.

I also spotted this Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

After leaving Monticello Park, I stopped by Merkle Wildlife and spotted this Palm Warbler. When I took this shot, I had forgotten to change my settings (had it set for Osprey BIF) so the shot was badly underexposed by 2 stops, which left the image a bit noisy, so I had to recover the exposure in LR3. Fortunutely, I shoot in Raw so I had lots of headroom to correct the exposure a bit.

Palm Warbler

This message was edited Apr 21, 2011 1:49 PM

I always round my trip off at the Merkle nature center and while there I got this image of the Bluebird atop a bush. He and another male were not happy with each other as they were just a fighting. Here, although you can't tell, he was saying, what sound like to some bad words, under his breadth. He went after the other bird shortly after I took this photo. I'm sure it was all over some female. Boy the things we men go thru...

Unhappy Male Bluebird



This message was edited Apr 21, 2011 1:54 PM

Here's a shot a White-throated Sparrow. It was eyeballing something.

Here's another shot of the Sparrow. Here, it was eyeballing me.

Nice shots Al! Love the Blue-headed Vireo!

Wow Al, wish I could take good pictures like you. So sharp and vivid.

Lots of great shots Met!

Hello everyone and thanks for taking the time to stop by and view my images.

It's been a minute, but I just can't get back as often as I'd like to update the thread, but then again, I think it's best to not over saturate things.

Well, I ventured to a new birding spot this Sunday; Battle Creek Cyprus Swamp Sanctuary. It is one of the northernmost sites of naturally occurring bald cypress trees in North America, and the only large stand of the trees on the western shore of Maryland. It has an elevated boardwalk (1/4 mile) that loops around the swampy area and through the Cypruss trees. I get there and the gate is closed to my surprise. The sign said the hours were 1-5pm on Sunday. I knew the hours, but I thought it was for the nature center; most places generally open the gates even though the nature center is closed. Well we know those hours are not good hours for us bird photographers. Determined to explore this new site, I parked just off to the side of the gate. I walked into the park and spotted the Gray Catbird, but it would not oblige me with any shots, so I continued on. I got near the boardwalk and realized I forgot something, so I had to walk back to the truck, but on the way back, the Catbird decides to let me get a few shots. So first up is the Gray Catbird. Oh and on the way back to the park there were about 5 deer that obliged me with some shots, so me forgetting something actually paid off. How about that. Plus, I had to entire swamp to myself, unbelievable.

Btw, I hope you'll don't mind my little story. I just sometimes thing a story is good to lead up to the photos; kinda put a perspective on things.

This message was edited May 2, 2011 3:43 PM

The 2nd Catbird shot. For once, this bird did not dash into the underbrush before I fired off a couple shots.

OK, now I enter the boardwalk and I'm thinking - "I wonder what luck I will have to day" As soon as I enter the swamp, I hear this call, which sounded familiar, but I was not absolutely sure what it was, but it was really close. I paused for a second and looked for movement and bingo when I saw the color of the bird, I then remembered the song from a not so good shot I got last summer. It is pretty dark in there and you have no choice but to raise your ISO. These shots were taken at ISO 1600 and I could only muster up a 1/200th SS, so that should give an idea of how dark it is in there. Anyway, I got a few decent shots as these little birds, like most, just zip from here to there.

Here is the Hooded Warbler.

Here's one where he's captured a caterpillar

Here, he's looking up at something

This is by far my best shot of the Hooded Warbler sitting on one of the Cypress tree knuckles. If I could capture more birds perched like this.

Ok, so things went well when I first entered the swamp, but it then dried up, but there were so many species of birds, but none came in shooting distant. However, throughout the swamp, I kept hearing the Northern Parula (pretty close, too), but it was hard to spot in there. So, I just made my rounds, because I wanted to explore as much of the swamp as possible. Well, I decided it was time to head home and my luck changed. This fella decided he wanted his picture taken.

The Northern Parula. These are my best shots to date. Again, I had to crank up the ISO to get the shots.

2nd shot of the Parula

3rd shot of the Parula

Last shot of the Parula. Needless to say, I was thrilled to get these shots.

Take care and see you soon.

This message was edited May 2, 2011 3:41 PM

Nice shots of the Hooded Warbler and Northern Parula, Al. Ironically, I went there one time, early morning, and the same thing happened. The gates were closed. The only difference is, I left ...... I haven't been back since !

Beautiful shots of those beautiful little birds, Al, especially considering the shutter speed and ISO. Love the last one of the Hooded Warbler.

Sounds like a beautiful place Met! I would love seeing those Cypress trees! Gorgeous birds you caught! Love that Hooded Warbler!

Thanks everyone. Charley, you need to head back up there and park just outside the gates. I think you might like it.

Wonderful shots Met!

Super shots of the Hooded Warbler and Parula Al, and liked your story that went along with it,.

Thanks for viewing my photos and commenting everyone.

I've gone to Jugs Bay the past 2 weekends and as always I see the Brown Thrasher hopping about looking for worms, but this time I got lucky and finally saw who they were feeding.

Mommy Thrasher and baby in tow...begging for some food. Since they were on different focal planes the image only has the mother in focus, but you can see the little one, too.

Then mommy gives me this look

Mommy flew off, but baby Thrasher sat there long enough to get a shot

I went back this past weekend to check in on the Chicadee family and spotted the little Thrasher again. Mommy chastised it just before I took this photo as if she told to stay out of sight.

This is the last one of the little Thrasher

Next are a couple shots looking for some worms

One last shot of the Brown Thrasher. They are plentiful at Jugs Bay. I see them every year.

Here's a couple shots of the Eastern Phoebe. One thing I notice is that when birds are looking for food they don't pay too much attention to me and that's when I get some great shots. They some time just pop up right in front of me like this little one and it was perched nicely.






This message was edited May 26, 2011 6:31 PM

Just one more of the same little birdy

Then I got a shot of Dracula...blaaaaa

Back on the home front (backyard). I snap some shots of the unusual suspects. Here's a Blue Jay looking for some of those peanuts.