I am starting a thread that can host all of the Warbler sightings that we have encountered this year. I find many of these birds to be extremely elusive, especially to photograph. Some have already been posted on the Bird Watching thread. Please feel free to re-post them on this thread. I just thought that it would be nice to have them consolidated.
I will start it off with a few photos of one of my favorites, the 'Yellow Warbler'.
Another photo of the same 'Yellow Warbler'. He/she was quite cooperative but I had to act quickly. They don't stay in one place very long.
And, another ...........
A close-up ..........
Last one of my 'Yellow Warbler'.
Lovely photos!
You captured the coloring perfectly
Those are absolutely beautiful. I have never seen a Yellow Warbler. Did you get the pictures close to your home. If they were in your back yard I am soooo jealous. Thanks for sharing.
Danea J
Excellent shots Linth!
I would love to have that one on my list.
Thanks, Boston, Danea and Pelle, for your comments.
Despite living next to a wooded area, I don't attract the birds that I would like to see. I've lived at the same location for 23 years. In that time, I have had a few migratory Rose-breasted Grosbeaks stop by for a day or two, an occasional Indigo Bunting, a Scarlet Tanager, Magnolia Warbler and Yellow-rumped Warbler, each one time. Through the years, I have found certain locations/habitat that allow me a greater opportunity to see and photograph various other species. I spend a lot of time near water looking for birds and photo opportunities. These Yellow Warbler photos were recently taken less than 90' from a local lake shoreline. Local birders have a pretty good network which disseminates information on a daily basis as to where certain birds are being seen. That helps.
Beautiful shots Linth and a great idea for a thread. I have been "Warbler-less" until yesterday when I finally spotted a Yellow in our tree line. This doesn't compare with yours but I was so relieved to finally get a shot.
That's a nice photo of the Yellow Warbler, Rose, and congratulations.
Many of the warblers hang-out high in the trees. One of the dangers in looking for warblers, outside of a stiff neck, is that you are constantly looking up, rather than down, and not watching where you are walking. The place I took these photos has a paved and heavily traveled path around the lake. A couple of guys passed me and then called out, "how come you didn't tell me to look out for that snake ?" I turned around and there was a snake (black snake) on the pathway, a few feet behind me. Oh, well !!! I'm more concerned about deer ticks than I am with snakes since I contracted Lyme disease last year. I don't go to a lot of places that I previously would not have given it a second thought. Lyme disease cases have increased dramatically in the Mid-Atlantic states.
Linth,
How beautiful!! I have heard and seen with my binoculars a yellow and some of the other warblers in early spring in Gatlinburg, TN. But never This close!! Spectacular!!!
You are so right linth, when you say they don't stay in one place very long. Had the hardest time to get this one yesterday, which is a new one for me. Finally got this picture up in a tree, he came out briefly, and I was ready. A bit to high up for my camera. This one is the Common Yellowthroat. I got a glimpse of him in the edge in my backyard. But he was always inside of it, when he came out you could only see it's head.
And this one come to the pond, he's easier to photograph.
Nice ones, burn. I haven't seen any 'Common Yellowthroats' yet this year. I usually get to see a few. Recently, I read on one of the local birding sites where one person saw 19 different warbler species in 6 hours. I am just amazed at how some people are able to virtually identify all of these warblers by voice. I asked a local knowledgeable birder about this because I admit I had some doubts. He asked, "do you have a music background ?" I said, "well, I can tell the difference between a drum and a trumpet". He said that that's not good enough !!! He went on to explain that individuals with music backgrounds have this ability to distinguish between the various warbler voices. So, if I don't photograph it, I didn't see it !
Same here lol, I need to see to tell.
I went to the lake the other night, and got a few far pictures of some, but can't be sure which it is. How I wish, I had better equipment sometimes.
I attended a nimber of the annual spring wildflower festivals in Gatlinburg, TN that are the last weekend of April. Went on morning birdwalks and classes every day with some wonderful experts. the different Warbler's songs were clearly described and I got to easily distinguish about 6 or 7 , but that was about 15 years ago the only one I would know now is the Blackburnian (I think) it has a zzzzip sort of sound that goes up at the end (again I may be totally wrong but I do iknow there was one that had that sound! ^_^
Fabulous photos Linth. Funny story about the snake.
I was hoping some others would post their warbler sightings but here is one of my favorites - the 'Yellow-breasted Chat'.
The "Chat" has long been considered the largest of the wood warblers. However, genetic data recently confirmed that it really doesn't belong in the warbler family. But its placement has not been resolved so for now it is still a warbler. It winters in Central America.
Although I have difficulty with many warbler voices, I can never mistake this one because of its uniqueness. I've actually seen more (and heard) this year than last year. That's always a good sign.
And another .....
Last one ..... of the 'Yellow-breasted Chat'.
LOL...no wonder it is called a Chat" ...looks like it warbles & "chats" alot!!
I certainly am enjoy8ng your posts & pics!
Thank You!
Saw what I identified as a Tennessee Warbler this a.m. near Lake Thunderbird. No opportunity to get a pic. I have few warblers around here.
Nice shots Linth, I love the Yellow-breasted Chat!
Sorry I can't contribute, haven't seen any warblers yet.
Seen plenty of warblers, but getting photos with my cheapo setup is another thing! Did get this pic of a female Blackcap earlier this year though.
Ones I've seen this year:
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Warbler
Icterine Warbler (rare here!)
Blackcap
Garden Warbler
Common Whitethroat
Lesser Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Resin
Here's a little "blackcap", known as a Wilson's Warbler.
Another.
And his mate.
Nice shots tiger and Resin!
Nice Blackcap, Resin. Warblers are difficult to photograph especially once all the leaves come out.
Also a nice Wilson's Warbler, tigerlily. I saw one last year sitting out in the open but as I raised my camera, it was gone.
Sometimes you get lucky. I have a small stretch of road that has ideal habitat on both sides that I sometimes just walk slowly back-and-forth for a couple of hours. Last week, all of a sudden, this Prairie Warbler appeared right in front of me. A few of my potentially better shots were blurred because at 500mm, I was too close to focus. I have always liked the Prairie Warblers.
Another pose .....
One more ........
Last one ......
Oh Linth those are great!
Those are really nice , Linth
Wonderful birds everyone. Stunning pix, Linth
Wonderful Pix Linth.
What camera do you use?
Thanks, everyone ..... I think most of the warblers have passed through my area as of this date.
Birdie Blue, the photos on this thread were taken with a Nikon D200 and a Sigma 50-500mm lens. I use this combination most of the time because this lens gives me the focal length that I need and I can handle it without a tripod.
I also have a Nikkor 500mm lens which will produce a sharper image but it's not a carry-around lens and requires the use of a tripod. If I had to use a tripod, I wouldn't get 25% of the photos that I do. I often add a 1.4x teleconverter to the Nikkor 500mm lens to give me 700mm. Not that the type of camera isn't important but it is the quality of the lens that ultimately provides the sharper images.
Here is a Yellow-rumped Warbler ......
Stunning pics Linth...very , very nice!!
Finally caught up with Wood Warbler today, the last of the regular breeding warblers around here for this year. Wood Warbler is one where one has to go to one of a small number of sites where they occur now (they used to be a bit commoner, but have been declining the last 10 years or so).
No pic from today, here's a pic of one I got last year:
Resin
