Mourning Warbler at Old Reid

 Gracie and I took nice little hike today at Old Reid along Buck Creek. We had walked down the trail to the creek when I saw movement in some brush. After observing for a few minutes, the bird popped out ....it was a male Mourning Warbler. The Mourning Warbler passes through our area during migration...right now, he is on his way Canada and the most northern states for breeding. He winters in Central America. He's a hard bird to see and photograph....he's what's called a "skulking bird" meaning he stays deep in the brush and avoids revealing himself. He put on a show (as much as a Mourning Warbler will), although he did stay in the shaded brush....not optimal for clean photos due to the high iso, but still worth some pixels.

Magee Marsh Warblers

 Some of our shots from Magee Marsh this week....

Wilson's Warbler

Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Hooded Warbler

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Female American Redstart Warbler

Black-Throated Blue Warbler

Black & White Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Black & White Warbler

Palm Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

American Redstart Warbler

American Redstart Warbler

Northern Parula Warbler

Canada Warbler

Mama Robin Ain't Scared of No Red-Heads!

 An interesting encounter at Old Reid Park (Clark County) this morning. I was thrilled to see a Red-Headed Woodpecker at Old Reid. This is the first one I've seen there in all of my time spent there! As I watched, the Red-Head made his way down the tree line. He apparently came a bit too close to an American Robin nest, and Mama Robin wasn't too pleased. She came at him, claws out. Although this took place at a fairly long distance from my vehicle and shots were at high iso with the gray skies, I was pleased to get a few images of the interaction.

Mink Encounter

 I was doing my walkabout at Cedar Bog today. The spring blooms are fabulous, but they weren't my favorite views today.
While traipsing along the creek, I caught some movement in the foliage along the bank, and saw a mink carrying what I initially thought was a rodent. I stood still and watched as she delivered it to a burrow in the bank. 
She left immediately and returned with a second identical package.....and then repeated the trip with a third. 
I was thinking that she was bringing prey to a litter, perhaps Muskrat kits....but upon closer inspection once I arrived home, it became apparent that she was actually moving her cubs to a new den!

Kingfisher Heaven!

 Anyone who attempts to photograph Belted Kingfishers knows how skittish they are and how tough it is to get close up images of them. 
My first experiences with Kingfishers was shortly after I began photographing birds....in about 2002. 
I had begun using a Canon 30D (the first digital SLR) and the Canon 100-400 lens that winter, and I  noticed that a Kingfisher was often sunning on a Sycamore branch over Buck Creek. The location was adjacent to a bridge, and I figured that I could sit under the bridge abutments and catch some images. 
Soooooo....I spent hours in January of that year sitting under the bridge in camo and covered with a camo cloth....and I got NOTHING! No matter how stealthy I was, the Kingfisher immediately noticed me and quickly departed. That earned them the name "Little Bastards" from me....and that name has stuck for over 20 years. 
In all fairness, I've developed some techniques to improve my Kingfisher skills over the years. First off....whenever possible STAY IN THE CAR! Kingfishers will not tolerate a person approaching on foot, but will (to a degree) tolerate a vehicle passing by. If I notice a Kingfisher perched, I usually drive by and take a look, then turn around and make another pass....this time slowing down well before reaching it to shoot a few images. Then, if the bird tolerates, I'll slowly approach and if in a safe location, I'll turn the engine off and continue shooting. Why engine off? Because the engine does frighten the bird, but also even the slightest vibration from the engine will cause some loss of sharpness to the image.
Yesterday, I was driving down a narrow country road, where I often see a pair of Kingfishers along a creek. I saw them both perched on a utility line initially, and slowed down to photograph. After a few shots, the female flew down to a fencepost and watched as I slowly approached. When I was almost even with her, it became apparent that she was being quite tolerant. Fortunately, the road has very little traffic, and I was able to shut off my vehicle and photograph her for a long while (in bird photography minutes). In fact, she was so cooperative that I finally drove on while she was still perched on the post (after over 1000 images). 

Superb Owl Sunday

 It's Super Bowl Sunday!
For some of us, though, it's also Superb Owl Sunday!
Here's a Short-eared Owl and a Northern Harrier standoff from Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area.
Yes...that's Bird Poop font...LOL. 

Neighborhood Cooper's Hawk

 David called to "come take a look" at our kitchen window.....our neighborhood Cooper's Hawk was perched on the deck railing next door.
I was able to get out our back door and grab a few snaps before it headed out.
What a gorgeous bird!!