Ovenbird
Oh, you Ovenbirds…I have been trying to get a decent, clear, on a branch or in the open photo of an Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) for the last two weeks with very little success. The best opportunity I had was a cold, foggy morning with heavy rain falling when multiple birds were walking only several feet in front of me, but that did not end well. These shots were taken a few days ago with a bird skulking about the brush under shrubs and trees along a trail. Good luck to you all with your birding this weekend. RTPI President Twan Leenders, Conservation Technician Elyse Henshaw, Intern...
Read MoreGray Catbird
This Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) certainly has the right idea here, picking out the most beautiful foraging place in all the land (or along the side of this road) to stop for a snack. The urban location made it all but certain this is a migrant individual, and let us hope it finds a yard with similar scenery…maybe even near you!
Read MoreWarbling Vireo
One of the more drab and plain May migrant birds in the Northeast is the Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus). Their subtle shades of brown, gray and olive combined with their tendency to hang up in the canopy makes it difficult to get an eyeful of the species – and you are far more likely to have an earful of their dynamic, fast and bold warbling song. This individual was foraging on a recent morning at a migratory hotspot, coming to eye-level and pausing on the phragmites just long enough for me to snap a shot. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreYellow Warbler Male
Here’s a more proper photo of a male Yellow Warbler perched in a willow shrub, befitting its status as undeniably common but unbelievably beautiful…
Read MorePrairie Warbler
This male Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) put on a sensational display for us last Sunday all while singing away and finding plenty to eat after his journey the previous night. It took a few hours to finally see the bird after hearing the rising, buzzy song repeatedly in the morning. The sun was shining brightly high in the sky by the time he came out into the open, giving the yellow warbler an even brighter glow while foraging in these willows. The Prairie Warbler is one of those species that perplexes me in the Chautauqua-Allegheny region. I feel like there should be more of them in...
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