The White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) was high on the list of spring targets for me this year, as I have not had a good look at the species in quite some time and I certainly did not have any decent photographs of one. That sentence was past tense because I recently accomplished this mission.
I certainly feel as though I can do better, but considering its behavior, the weather conditions, location, and time of day, I was happy with what I got. Can you tell why they are called White-eyed Vireos? This uncommon (at least in our region) species is often relatively elusive despite being conspicuous when singing, calling, and foraging. This bird was active for a while in the middle of the day, consistently staying in cover or fleeting from open branches before I had a chance to aim, focus, and click. The constantly changing skies added to the photographic frustrations, but I feel that the resulting overexposure actually added to the feel of this shot. Here this bird seemed to be gathering some nesting material, and I hope that was the case! I would love to have an opportunity to meet its family later this summer.
Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
