Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged Warbler.

 

Another one of those jewels or gems that I have been hoping to capture a really nice image of is the Golden-winged Warbler. I was able to get a few images I am very pleased with yesterday. They don’t stay long and they usually aren’t in the area, so seeing one of them is always special. What a beauty!

 

I am headed to Maine tomorrow for the Out of Acadia Photography Conference so I will inundating you with images of Maine and the coast so be prepared! One more morning of monitoring the migration tomorrow then off to Lobsterland!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1250, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

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Grey Catbird

Do I hear a kitten?

The Grey Catbird is a really interesting bird. My first encounter, years ago, with the Catbird, I was thinking I heard a cat or kitten “meowing” in the woods behind our house near Atlanta. It concerned me that a cat was probably hunting near the bird houses in the yard. I went out to look and became more concerned as I saw birds flying in the holly bushes and small trees at the end of the yard. The birds flew off when I approached and the cat meowing stopped as well. This went on several times before I finally discovered the bird was a Catbird and it was responsible for the calls. It amazed me a bird imitated its predator.

Also at first glance the Grey Catbird is very dull in color. It has a nice rusty patch under its tail. It is almost the polar opposite of the bright Oriole and Tanager I posted recently but every bit as interesting to watch and observe.

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1100, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

Fall Baltimore Oriole

Fall Baltimore Oriole.

 

One bird that definitely rivals the Scarlet Tanager for incredible fall plumage would be the male Baltimore Oriole. I have had several in the backyard this week and to see the bright birds fly down is quite impressive. I have been seeing lots of Tanagers this week as well and yesterday more Warblers are moving through. I want to get a good image of one before I add it to my list, but it would make 24 for the year. Bird Nirdvana is continuing into fall here in Bear Woods!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1250, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

White-eyed Vireo

White-eyed Vireo.

 

With the visit of the White-eyed Vireo, my count of different Vireo this summer/fall sits at 5! It is interesting watching the Vireos fly around the forest canopy and then down to the yard. They are “hanging” together in small groups mixed together. The most vocal tends to be the Blue-headed Vireo. I know the migration is starting to wind down in our area as I have seen few Warblers in the past few days, but lots of Orioles, Tanagers and Vireos. There have been several Thrushes and Catbirds, but they don’t come into the yard but tend to stay at the forest’s edge.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 800, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

Philadelphia Vireo

Philadelphia Vireo.

 

The Warblers have been getting much of the attention in the yard since I usually don’t have 10 different varieties, much less the 23 so far this year, but I have had a great year with Vireo as well. Yesterday I had a Philadelphia Vireo come by and visit a couple of times. That brings the Vireo total to 4, the Blue-headed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, the Yellow-throated Vireo and now the Philadelphia Vireo. Each day brings builds more of Bird Nirdvana here in Bear Woods! The next 2 or 3 weeks are going to have lots of action with the approaching cooler weather too!

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 1400, shutter speed of 1/125th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional, #BirdNirdvana

Add Water to Attract Birds

Add Water to Attract Birds.

 

I get questions on a regular basis about attracting birds to your yard. First, you have to identify whether birds are prone to visit your area and why. Once you have done that, you simply add another component to attract them even more. They come to my yard for food first of all. I put out a small amount of sunflower seeds and mealworms, but there are lots of flowers and plants that attract insects where birds get there share of natural source foods. I had one bird bath for water but recently added a second pan that the birds love. Within minutes of putting it out and filling it up, I had birds visiting it. If and when you put water out, make sure you are changing the water and cleaning the container out as well. You don’t want the birds to get sick from something they drank. I also tell people to clean your feeders as well, they can get bacteria that can be harmful too. Make sure you don’t put feeders and water close to windows, this prevents birds from flying into the window. Sources of food, water, and cover will get birds into your area.

 

Tamron SP 150-600mm Di VC USD G2 lens on a Nikon D-500, Manual Exposure mode, f8, ISO 250, shutter speed of 1/100th of a second, Sirui P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional

Yellow-throated Vireo

Yellow-throated Vireo.

 

I have been looking at all the great birds I have seen so far this year, and one that is showing up right now almost daily has been the Yellow-throated Vireo. A very vibrant bird that usually follows in one of the Blue-headed Vireo. I will see the flash of yellow and then seeing it is slightly larger than the Warblers, I wait until it appears on one of the front branches of the Crepe Myrtles. Beautiful birds and I am really happy to see them often now, but know it will only be a few weeks and the migrants will be gone.

 

Don’t forget, tomorrow night, I will be presenting “Bird Nirdvana” to the Alpharetta Chapter of the Georgia Nature Photographers Association! I hope to see some of you there!

 

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 P424S carbon fiber monopod and L10 head, processed in Lightroom CC. #WithMyTamron, #TamronUSA, #TamronLensesUSA, #TamronImageMaster, #Sirui, #SiruiUSA, #SiruiProfessional