Good Birding Morning

After so much rain over the last couple of days, it was nice to get out this morning even if it was still a bit overcast and gray.  Not a good photography day light wise but the birds were really active this morning.  There was more activity today than I have seen in some time.

There were a group of three Great Crested Flycatchers searching for insects.  I could tell two were first year birds and I am sure the adult was the mom.




A Red-eyed Vireo was hunting in the same general area as the Flycatchers.  I have not seen one since the spring and was glad to get a good look at it.













There were lots of hummingbirds and they were very active however with the low light it was difficult to get up much shutter speed without going way high on the ISO.  Still they are fun to watch.












The Passion Flowers are in full bloom and quite pretty.  They were staying open later in the morning with the overcast sky.  I really want to get one of these vines going at the house.

Of course now that I am back at the house,  it looks like the sun is trying to make an appearance.  I guess better late than never.

Red-eyed Vireo

Birding Paradise

An unplanned outing today down east for a bit of birding.  A little disappointed with the lack of warblers however I was probably a week or two early but I knew my upcoming schedule would not let me go then.

The other birds today however made up for the lack of warblers.  The trees were absolutely filled with Northern Parula.  Almost everywhere you looked, there they were.

One of the most amazing sights was a tree with somewhere between 8-10 Baltimore Orioles.  They were going nuts over some berries.  It was truely a sight to behold.














There were plenty of Redstarts hunting insects in the scrub.  This was truely a habitat suited for them.

Quite a few Red-eyed Vireos?  Although the eye doesn't look as red as some that I have seen, based on the size of the bird and geographical location that is my guess.  I can't recall however ever seeing one with as dark a crown as this one.

The usual suspects, Egrets and Great Blues were numerous.  It seemed a bit odd going this time of year as I usually go during the winter to see the migrating waterfowl.  The lake seemed quite with the exception of some Canada Geese and a few Osprey.  It was a great day however.  With the exception of a couple of people fishing up towards the front part of the refuge, I never saw another soul.  The joy of quiet and having the remainder of the refuge to yourself.

Birding From The Deck

Home a little early today and had some time to enjoy sitting outside.  I took the laptop outside and was listening to some bird calls.  Did the birds respond?  Oh yes.  What fun.  A little more light would have been fantastic but then you can't have it all.  The two that I have been seeing that I could not get to come up were the Black-Throated Blue Warbler and Redstarts.  The Northern Parula, Red-Eyed Vireo and of course the Great Crested Flycatcher were willing participants.

Probably the most fun was the flycatcher.  Some great shots of it turning and cocking its head and singing along.