It was April 2010 when Steve and I were canoeing down the Macal River in Belize and where I saw my first Prothonotary Warbler. Eric, our guide, excitedly pointed out the colorful yellow bird to us. Now fast forward to the following Spring–May, to be exact–where I saw my second Prothonotary Warbler at Point Pelee in Ontario Canada.
So this means, the little yellow bird flies roughly 5,000 miles each way when migrating. Me? Well I probably take the elevator at work far more often than I should instead of taking the stairs. I’m too lazy to be a Warbler, I suppose.
Maybe that’s why Warblers have conspired against me. You see, they’re the least cooperative of birds (even moreso than hummingbirds!) when I’m trying to take their photo. They flit around dense leaves so much I can hardly get a shot. Most often, I just give up. The one thing I lack that most really good birders have is patience. (Just ask my husband, the real birder in the family.)
Sigh. I’m working on it. I promise.
The following photos of Warblers are those that were willing and cooperative and apparently not part of the conspiracy. I hope I haven’t outed them here.
Magnolia Warbler – Tikal, Guatemala (Click photo to enlarge)
Bay breasted warbler immature – Cerro Punta, Panama (Click photo to enlarge)
Slaty-throated Redstart – Cerro Punta, Panama (Click photo to enlarge)
Tenessee Warbler? Brown-capped Vireo? Hard to tell from this view – Cerro Punta, Panama (Click photo to enlarge)
Flame-throated Warbler – Cerro Punta, Panama (Click photo to enlarge)
Yellow Warbler – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Wilsons Warbler – Cerro Punta, Panama (Click photo to enlarge)
Black and White Warbler – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Chestnut-sided Warbler – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Northern Parula Warbler Female – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Northern Parula Warbler – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
American Redstart – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Cape May Warbler (female) – Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Yellow Warbler – Point Pelee National Park, Ontario Canada (Click photo to enlarge)
Yellow-breasted Chat – Macal River, Belize (I know, not a great photo.)
Northern Waterthrush – Macal River, Belize. Another so-so photo. (Click photo to enlarge)
warblers nest (Click photo to enlarge)
Prothonotary Warbler – Macal River, Belize (Click photo to enlarge)
10 comments
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July 6, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Seagullsteve
Ugh I’ve had the same luck with warbler photography. The ratio of acceptable warbler photographs to number of warbler species I’ve seen is terribly skewed.
The Tennessee you posted above lacks the lime green or yellows that they should have….I’ve never for sure seen one, but that looks a lot like a Brown-capped Vireo.
July 6, 2012 at 11:21 pm
Ms. Boice
Why, Segullsteve, I think you might be right! My husb and I have consulted our Panama Field Guide and we’re torn. Might be an immature Tennessee Warbler, but it could be the Brown-capped Vireo. According to the field guide the Vireo has a limited range in Panama where this was shot, so that’s why we lean toward the Tennessee Warbler (I believe my husband is going to be up all night studying the photo. Maybe he’ll have this figured out by morning.) But hey, if it’s the Vireo that would have been a good find, no? Sigh. I guess that’s why I’m the Accidental Birder.
Nevertheless, good eye! I always welcome the expertise of others.
July 8, 2012 at 10:15 pm
Ms. Boice
I think you are right. Judging by the thick bill this would be a Brown-capped Vireo and not a Tennessee Warbler which has a thin, dark bill.
Steve
July 7, 2012 at 6:51 am
Gayle
Lisa, I think the warbler photos you’ve gotten look just lovely! I really like the slaty-throated redstart (probably because I’ve never seen one!).
July 7, 2012 at 11:55 am
Ms. Boice
Thanks! I’m in love with the slaty-throated redstart too! Do you all have any birding trips coming up? We’re thinking of going to Ecuador next year.
July 7, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Laurence Butler
Ha! I think you’re setting a pretty high standard in the Warbler photography war! Seriously, nice sequence of shots. Your list of photographed Warblers is straight-up prodigious.
July 10, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Ms. Boice
Laurence, why THANK you! I’m going to keep trying to get photos of those darn warblers, come hell or high water.
July 9, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Sue
Wow, that’s a collection to be proud of! To heck with the flighty, shy ones.
July 10, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Ms. Boice
Thanks so much, Sue! Let’s see if I can get a shot of the one in the backyard. I’m determined!
July 17, 2012 at 10:13 pm
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