‘Tis the Season for Migration
ISO1000; f/6; 1/1000 Second
The mounds of snow and ice are gone, preventing the squirrels from leaping onto the bird feeders (for the most part). Newly formed buds on the trees are small and do not obstruct my camera’s line of view. The windows are washed and cranked open as much as the temperatures will allow. I have hauled up my photographer’s blind from the basement and set it up on the porch overlooking the feeders.
I am waiting and hoping that some new and unusual spring migrating birds will pass through and grace me with an appearance -and (of course) perch in the unobstructed trees closest to our library windows or porch. I had tremendous luck in my own yard last fall, so my expectations are skyhigh that if I sit and wait by my library windows long enough, I will see and photograph some new birds. (See this post about last Fall’s activity.)
ISO 800; f/5.6; 1/1250 Second
Cameras Ready
I watch over two cameras set up on tripods in our library; The 5D Mark III, attached to the 500 mm lens and the 7D Mark II, attached to the 300mm lens. The platform and suet feeders are full, bringing in lots of activity from the usual visitors (Cardinals, House Finches, Chickadees, Titmice, Mourning Doves, Juncos, various Woodpeckers, and Nuthatches.) I’m hoping that migrating warblers and other unusual transients will notice heavy bird activity and want to join in for a meal.
Migratory Birds Photographed So Far
So far this Spring, I’ve seen and photographed the following migratory birds: Red winged Blackbirds, Gold Finches, Cowbirds, House Finches, Purple Finches, Pine Siskins, Cedar Waxwings, Eastern and Western Meadowlarks, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, field and song sparrows, unusual sparrows like the Towhee and Vesper Sparrow, and even a Wilson’s Snipe.
By far the most exciting photography challenge this Spring was when a bright and bold male Pine Warbler came down to feast on suet. This warbler species is one of the few that visits feeders. Thinking that this would be my only chance, I photographed almost every single sighting, mostly him clinging to a suet feeder. After a hundred or so shots, I was more calculated, keeping the windows open and watching and waiting for him to land on a natural perch with a pleasing background.
Patience and perseverance most certainly brings success to photographers.
The Pine Warbler stayed little more than a day, and I have several hundred photographs. Still, I keep looking, hoping to see him again.
I would like to see pictures of a cowbird on your website, please. I believe the cowbird story is blogworthy. You may use my photo of the violated nest from last week. It was pretty high tech with an aperture setting at IPhone. I love the photos of the Pine warbler.