This Season's Goal - Prothonotary Warbler

Each year I set a goal for a particular bird that I hope to photograph.  This year it has been the Prothonotary Warbler.

I headed out early this morning but stopped before I got out of the drive.  Several deer were lazily  grazing at the side of the yard.  At first I thought they were does but after uploading the photos can see antlers growing.







Moving on to meet a friend we then headed out.  It was such a treat to so closely observe the bird hunting and feeding little ones.  It was a very good morning out.  By the time we left the temperatures were rising and clouds were racking up.  It won't surprise me for a late afternoon shower.

Juvenile Prothonotary

Hooded Warbler

A friend and I went back down to the river today with intentions of trying for  better shots of a couple of warblers.  We really did not give any thought to it being a holiday weekend and absolutely the folks were flooding in.  A rather large group came in with about 10 canoes.









Too much activity to stay long.  We headed down the path in search of a side path to the river but went too far and lucked up on an area with several Hooded Warblers.  Most shots were in deep shade but I lucked up on a couple of shots in brighter light.

I think I will head out late this afternoon to try for some beaver shots.  Hopefully I can get a few.

Wonderful Morning

After days of rain, it was nice to get out this morning before more rain came in this afternoon.  I went with a friend and his wife to an area in the next county over.  It was a very isolated area and I don't think I would have gone by myself or at least would not have felt very comfortable.

As soon as the car door opened it was a symphony of bird songs.  I was excited as I began to identify what was there.  It was not long before what I hoped to see flew by.  The number of Prothonotary Warblers were a delight to the senses.

Continuing on down a path, there was a great flurry of activity among some American Redstarts.  Before long we spotted what they were upset about...a snake in the tree.  A group of 5 or 6 females began displaying and alarming in the tree where the snake was.  Not once did we ever see a male though.












On my way home, I did make a quick stop by my usual birding haunt and what do you know, I spotted a male Redstart!













A Yellow-throated Warbler was searching a tree and feeding a young one.















As we were leaving we spotted a White-eyed Vireo.  I really like these birds with their white eye.




 

Blackpoll Warbler

I went out for a bit this morning but it was very slow.  With a horrible case of the red bugs (chiggers), tick bites and poison ivy, I called it a day early.  Off and on the remainder of the day I would see a bird quickly come to the bath and leave just as quickly.  Late this afternoon it got the courage to come in.  A Blackpoll Warbler!  First time I can ever recall seeing one in the yard.

As I was watching it, I kept noticing another little bird wanting to come in but very skittish.  Finally when the warbler started bathing and a Chickadee also came in, the female Northern Parula came in.

Day Trip To Lake Mattamuskeet

I had planned to go yesterday but the car battery died late in the day and the running around to get a new one put me behind.  It was a spur of the moment decision early this morning to go ahead with the trip.  I guess I should have really checked the weather because the wind was gusting steadily all day.  But oh well.  The first thing I saw when I entered the refuge was a group of white pelicans.  It was pretty cool to see so many together but they sure were spooky.  If you tried to get close they would fly.

The osprey was steady on the hunt and had the ducks and geese fussing over their little ones.














The Indigo Buntings were everywhere.  This particular male was displaying like crazy.  I guess he was trying to find himself a sweet lady bird.












The Great Crested Flycatchers were numerous and steadily keeping a fuss, chasing each other and in general stirring up all the other birds.

I saw several groups of Wood Duck chicks.  In this particular group I counted 12 chicks.  Some had already gone by.  Their mortality rate is so high with falling victim to turtles, large fish and assorted birds of prey you can only hope that at least a third will make it to adulthood.  I watched this female for a while and she sure was a good mom.

I was out walking along the edge of one of the canals when a big splash startled me.  I guess this gator was looking for a meal.

Lonicera sempervirens

Coral Honeysuckle, Trumpet Honeysuckle, Woodbine.  Unlike the invasive Japanese white and yellow honeysuckle, the Coral Honeysuckle is a native species and is not as aggressive as the Japanese invasive.  Good for attracting hummingbirds.

Eastern Wood-Pewee

An easily overlooked bird with the colorful birds that are arriving and moving through this time of year but their song captures your attention.  Their behavior is typical of other flycatchers so it is easy to get some good shots of them.