A pleasant fall surprise, a Cape May Warbler

A pleasant Fall surprise, a Cape May Warbler.

 

I’ve got a lot more landscape images to post, but yesterday I got to spend a few minutes on my back porch overlooking the Bear Woods Wildlife Sanctuary(I love saying that), and observing the birds coming by to visit. There were great numbers of my usual suspects, then a group of Tennessee Warblers visited, then a few Bay-breasted Warblers, and finally this Cape May Warbler came in a few times, but stopped only once long enough for me to get a few images. This year was the first time I had seen Cape Mays at my house in the fall and it is great seeing them now 3 different times. I hope they continue to visit for a few days more.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 2200, shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, Sirui P424S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #BearWoodsPhotography, #BirdNirdvana, #BearWoodsWildlifeSanctuary

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Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Bluebird

Baltimore Oriole and Eastern Bluebird.

 

In my post yesterday I mentioned the Oriole and the Bluebird sort of facing off during the squabble of the Bluebirds. The poor Oriole was just there trying to get a little bite to eat but got caught up in the fuss. The Bluebird did fly off just after this image so all was well and the Oriole did move to the spot from my post yesterday.

 

On a side note, this image is great for folks just learning birding and how to ID them. One thing I look for to narrow it down quickly is the beak. Notice the long pointed beak of the Oriole, while the Bluebird, which is a member of the Thrush family has a shorter beak that even “bends” down at the tip slightly.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 900, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BearWoodsWildlifeSanctuary, #BirdNirdvana

Baltimore Oriole

Baltimore Oriole.

 

Yesterday was the first day that it was mostly clear in the morning and actually a little cooler in temperature as well, so I figured the birding would be a little better and I would see several migrants heading south. I saw a few, but the most interesting part of the morning was when not only my usual Eastern Bluebirds showed up, but another group of around 8 showed up as well. They were battling a bit for control over the yard and even the juveniles got involved in the scuffle. It was interesting after a little while when they seemed to somewhat settle down and get along. In the middle of the scuffle this beautiful Baltimore Oriole landed in the Crepe Myrtles and was picking at the fruits. At one point one of the juvenile Bluebirds challenged the Oriole as well. This could be an interesting winter with about 20 Bluebirds!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1600, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BearWoodsWildlifeSanctuary, #BirdNirdvana

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

 

Twice a year I get to see and hear these distinctive migrants. In the spring the males come through with brightly colored feathers on the chest, in fall, the colors have faded but they are every bit just as beautiful. One thing that doesn’t change is their appetite! For me though I will gladly pay for the seed that helps fuel them on their trip. They are one of the only migrants that will actually stop at the feeders, so make sure you have seed out for them if you are able to do so.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure Mode, f8, ISO 4000, shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BearWoodsWildlifeSanctuary, #BirdNirdvana

Bay-breasted Warbler

Bay-breated Warbler.

 

I was beginning to think that the fall would pass and I wouldn’t have any Bay-breasted Warblers visit, but that changed yesterday with 3 stopping by in the morning. The rain and fog has deterred the birding up here over the past few days and I was almost ready to head inside when 3 little flashes flew into the Crepe Myrtles. When I saw the wing bars with a light tint of red below them on the body, I knew the Bay-breasted Warblers had returned. I am hoping they stay a few days with the weather looking better. I did get some better images last year, but would love to see them as they head south for the winter. This brings the backyard total to 26 Warblers for the year so far!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 6400, shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BearWoodsPhotography, #BearWoodsWildlifeSanctuary, #BirdNirdvana

Brown Thrasher

Brown Thrasher.

 

This time of year it is easy to focus on the rare and colorful migrants, but there are other birds that come through that I don’t see too often. Last year I had a family of Brown Thrashers here, but this year the sightings have been far and few. But this week one has showed up and seems to be staying. They are great insect control and love to dig a little from grubs, which is fine with me. I have seen it with its beak covered in mud after working an area that I just weeded. When nature is allowed to do what it is designed, it does a great job, just not always overnight like we sometimes want it to do. I am asked often how it is we get so many bird varieties up here and the answer is simple, we are trying to let the birds do what they do naturally.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Mode, f8, ISO 1100, shutter speed of 1/60th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BirdNirdvana, #BearWoodsPhotography

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler.

 

I don’t see Magnolia Warblers in the summer, small numbers in the spring, but they are fairly numerous in fall. This year has been no different. I am seeing several each day now and they are fairly cooperative posing too! They like to harass the other birds, but they spend a lot of their time actually looking for insects as well. They works their way through the foliage checking every place that the leaves meet the base of the plants. I have one distinct one that has a single white spot on its tail that has been here a few days now. It is getting closer to the end of the migration up here and in a few weeks the winter birds will start moving in and claim their places.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 2000, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P224S monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom Classic CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #BearWoodsPhotography, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiImaging, #SiruiProfessional, #BirdNirdvana