Thursday, June 18, 2009

A Study in Black and White

What colour is this bird?

Being a color blind kind of guy, the Black-and-White Warbler is one of my favorite birds. It also happens to be the symbol of the Black Swamp Bird Observatory. Colourful (spelling for my new Cardiff buddies) birds are great, don't get me wrong. I love the bright warbly things with the yellow splashed all over their spasmodic little bodies.

But sometimes people get all excited and start jumping up and down, screaming and pointing:

"Look at that beautiful Scarlet Tanager up in that tree!"
"My, it's SO RED, it practically glows against the GREEN tree!"
"It's right THERE!, NO, THERE! WHAT ARE YOU BLIND?"

Well, in a way, yes. This past May at Magee Marsh, there was a Tanager quite close by. A very 'helpful' older woman was very insistent that I see the bird and photograph it. She grabbed my arm and tugged me around. She pointed and waved her cane at the bird. She was on the edge of hitting me, I think, until I finally saw movement and sighted the "BRIGHT RED BIRD."

Thank you very much. I'll stick to Black-and-White Warblers.

Not only a 'Bird from Behind', butt from below as well!

A busy little lady getting her nest ready. It's great that we have these nesting in the area.
Oops! How did this Blackpoll Warbler get in here? This one was such a beauty, but it only sat still in the open for its portrait for a second. Shoot quick!!

Hmmm, more material for another blog? "Birds from Above" nah...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Another look at Willies!

"I'm ready for my close-up Mr. DeMille. Is this my good side?"




So, what were you thinking, eh? I thought I would post more warbly pics tonight. Mostly since I couldn't think of anything clever. I went out to dinner with my brothers and nephew and ate too much...can you say "Hot Fudge Sundae?", I know I can...


I took my brother Jeff out to look for warblies once (yes, once), we, or more accurately, I saw one Yellow-rumped Warbler, that was it, nothing else to be found, go figure. Jeff couldn't locate it and didn't believe me. I need to get the family to go to the Magee Marsh boardwalk next May, then maybe, just maybe, they will understand the May-hem of May Warbler Madness that we all know and love so well.



In any case, you can look at these photos while I get some Pepto-Bismol and lay down for a little while....ugh......

I usually count myself lucky if I can get ONE shot of a Wilson's. This year there were plenty to choose from!

This was my ONLY shot from 2007. The first Wilson's I saw was in 2005...in Panama!


This was number two on the Wilson's Warbler Countdown...2006...Magee Marsh International Migratory Bird Day, the day I discovered the joys of bird butt photography!

Here's the latest 'Birds from Behind' pose. I think after a few years of struggling with trying to get good shots of the front, I have surrendered to my natural talent...Photo-Booty Man.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Barn babies

Quality workmanship at its finest! Smile everyone!

About two weeks ago I shot a few photos of Barn Swallows working on their nests on the back of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge nature center. Something tells me there are a few laws being broken by the Swallows. They were building their nests on top of the fire sprinkler heads. There might be a safety issue with that choice of location, but seeing that Barn Swallows don't read very well and aren't always up on the latest fire codes, we'll let them slide.


"You gotta problem with this?"

I went back Sunday morning to check out their construction efforts, and what a good job they have done! One nest had at least five of the begging little barn beasties packed in it. Watch out mosquitoes, you're gonna be dinner soon!


Male in the front, female in the back...notice the expression, need I explain?

What a gorgeous bird!

One of our neighbors at the BirdMobile is lucky enough to have a nest with young'uns under his awning. He's not real happy about the mess underneath, but I think he appreciates the fact that they will be zooming around eating the bugs that bug us!


Our youngest neighbors. We may have to call that mobile home "BirdMobile 2!"

One of the proud parents! You can tell by the pose.



All we have under our awning is a pair of noisy House Sparrows. If I was in England, I would be happy. I'm not in England. I'm not happy. Especially at 5:30 in the morning ...CHIRP...CHIRPCHIRP...CHIRP, what a lilting little melody...

Last, but not least, we found this barn Swallow looking for directions on our trip to England. I think he found his way.