A good day birding is like…

watching a good movie. It’s not easy to come upon, therefore, most gratifying.

I’m partial to yellow birds: Warblers, Goldfinches, Vireos… and a more orangey hue, the Baltimore Oriole. These are all that I’ve seen around here in the hinterland above the 49th parallel, unlike many of you in the warm and welcoming south having the chance to see more colourful varieties.

The woods by the Pond is a haven of warblers this year, but to capture one with the camera is highly challenging. They never stay still on a branch for more than a couple of seconds, let alone finding them clear from leaves. I can see them, small, yellow flying creatures in the air darting from tree to tree and hear them calling, as if teasing me, “catch me if you can.”

During my good day of birding a couple weeks ago I was able to get some of these tiny yellow warblers in my camera:

Serendipity is what makes good birding. Just as I was pleased with myself for taking some photos of yellow warblers, I found a warbler’s nest. A bonus! Trying my best to be as unobtrusive as possible, I took these pictures:

and look at this one carefully, you can see the tiny beak of a baby warbler sticking out:

I called it a good birding day and started to head back to my car when I saw an orangey thingy in a small tree at a distance. The Baltimore Oriole! I’ve heard from other birders that they’d seen one recently and everybody was looking for it. You who live in Baltimore or almost anywhere south of the 49th might have a good laugh at how excited we are in spotting a Baltimore Oriole. It’s not rare, but still a very special sighting for us. I took these from afar:

That’s a wrap of a good day birding. What more, I don’t need to write a review!

***

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Arti

If she’s not birding by the Pond, Arti’s likely watching a movie, reading, or writing a review. Creator of Ripple Effects, bylines in Asian American Press, Vague Visages, Curator Magazine.

22 thoughts on “A good day birding is like…”

    1. They’re already cropped. I want to show the whole nest in its context with all the leaves and branches. Too bad I couldn’t get the little one(s) to come out more. I went back there today and found the nest empty. Not sure if they have moved on.

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  4. Oh Arti!
    You just enjoy your birding experiences and photography!!
    The warbler shots inside their nest were amazing … and God gave you a great gift!
    The Oriole, as a parting glimpse of your day, is a beauty!
    Thank you 🙏 for sharing.

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  5. You know what’s funny? I rarely see a warbler, and only once have seen an oriole (perhaps Baltimore) because they don’t breed here. They only pass through during migration, and many of them aren’t yet sporting their bright colors when they arrive. Even the Goldfinches, which will spend more time here in winter, are little brown birds for us, with just a bit of the greeny-gold left in their feathers. Oddly, people just a little farther west — like Austin — often see them more often. It all depends on where the migration passes through.

    Your photos are wonderful! To see any bird on the nest is an experience; these are splendid!

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    1. I must count my blessings… never thought that when these birds fly south to your area their plumage wouldn’t be as beautiful as they are now in their breeding season. Goldfinches are startling golden yellow, and I just love the Baltimore Oriole’s bold orange and black plumage.

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  7. These pictures are amazing! We have a deck off the back of the house and I can look out the kitchen window and see the railing of the deck. I’ve noticed that birds seem to really like that particular part of the deck railing. I’ve been enjoying watching the various birds that decide to land there for brief moment or two. 🙂

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  12. Gorgeous! Warblers are not easy to catch, and sometimes to identify! Last week, I saw a Kentucky warbler for the first time – in Southern Illinois. They are supposed to be uncommon, but my pictures show clearly it was one. I love birding too, my second passion after reading. Thanks for sharing.

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