Bird Identification and Vireos

Philadelphia Vireo

Philadelphia

Philadelphia Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Warbling

White-eyed Vireo

White-eyed Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

White-eyed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

Blue-headed Vireo

I have been enjoying the great fun of migration and new birds visiting our 2.9 Woods.  For me, the fun of photographing birds and the identifying them go hand and hand.  You may have only mere seconds to take in the details of a bird with your eyes.  The camera holds the image and remembers what you forget.  I love to capture a bird image and know that I have a much better chance for identification. This is particularly true when you have never seen the bird before or maybe only a couple times and feel unsure of its identity. This scenario happened to me just a couple of days ago. A bird was on our water feature. I reached for the binoculars and first thought Red-eyed Vireo.  My camera capture revealed the Warbling Vireo.  I had seen this Warbling Vireo before a couple of years ago. Time had passed and my first look at him would have been wrong vireo!  Warbling Vireo was more exciting because I was putting him in my memory banks again. This photograph could be looked at many times and may have provided a different light or pose of the bird than I had seen before.  I had noticed that the Warbling Vireo was dipping into the water very quickly and then out to a branch. He did this over and over while bathing and preening himself. The White-eyed Vireo bathes in the same fashion.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of different Vireos.  Blessings!

Highlights of April!

Red-eyed Vireo

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Northern Parula

Yellow-throated Warbler

Black-throated Green

White-eyed Vireo

Brown Thrasher

Hooded Warbler

Hermit Thrush

Cedar Waxwing

Black and White Warbler

Indigo Bunting

Yellow-breasted Chat

Nashville Warbler

Baltimore Oriole

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Summer Tanager

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Tennessee Warbler

Nashville W.

Blue-winged Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Tennessee

Blackburnian

Blue-headed Vireo

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I have been enjoying spring, summer birds and recovering from an upper respiratory "bug".  I am happy to be feeling better and am enjoying the new visitors to the yard.  Our Sparrows, Song, Fox, Lincoln, Chipping, and all except two White-throated have moved on. We are not seeing any American Goldfinch or Cedar Waxwings this week.  The American Robin, Pine Warbler and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker are also gone.  It has been a couple of days since we enjoyed a visit from our Hermit Thrush. We will certainly miss them in the evening and early morning.  We had a few new visitors in late March. This week has been hectic and busy at the water and in the woods.  Our Warblers to date are The Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula, Common Yellowthroat, Blackburnian, Blue-winged, Black-throated Green, and Yellow- throated.  The Black and White Warbler and Hooded Warbler are summer residents.  We see them at the water each day. Others in the yard at this time are Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Summer Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Blue-headed Vireo as well as Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos.  Some of these will stay for the summer, others will move to their breeding grounds.  We are overjoyed to have them for a visit! Blessings!