This female or immature Wilson’s Warbler isn’t a photographic lifer for me but it is the first time I have gotten a decent image of one, most of the time I’ve gotten blurry images of them of just a small part of the bird.
Female/immature Wilson’s Warbler – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/125, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I’m not sure whether this is a female or an immature male that was hatched this year but it caught my eye as it foraged in a shrub along side of a gravel road yesterday in Box Elder County. I was lucky to get a few photos of it where there weren’t shadows from the shrub criss-crossing the warbler’s body. Even in the shade this was one very bright yellow bird. I kept hoping the warbler would come out into the open in the sunlight but unfortunately I saw it fly away.
In adult males the black cap of Wilson’s Warblers is very obvious, in females and immature birds it is more of an olive cap. The cap of this bird seems a bit darker to my eye than the female Wilson’s Warbler photos I compared this one to which is why I have labeled this one female/immature.
I used to see these birds at home in the spring outside of my window where they would glean insects or insect eggs from a small shrub that used to be there. That shrub died a few years ago and I miss seeing and hearing these wood-warblers at home.
I also spotted a Cassin’s Vireo yesterday morning and took my “lifer” photos of it. I didn’t see the vireo fly away, it just moved deeper into the trees I found it in. I would have sat a long time to get high quality photos of it out in the open much like I did when I photographed the Baltimore Oriole I found a few weeks ago. I wasn’t driving myself that day though. I’m growing quite fond of vireos.
Fall migration is happening right now and there are so many opportunities to photograph species of smaller birds that I haven’t photographed before that are moving through the state. I’ll be looking for them.
The biting insects are still a problem for me because some nasty mosquitoes bit my head up yesterday, I will be SO glad when cooler weather arrives and all the blood suckers stop pestering me.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Wilson’s Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
How nice that this little beauty was co-operative for you.
Sigh on the bitey beasts. I feel for you. They love me.
Very nice photo!!!
Hi sweetie! Love this birds! Gives me good memories of when I spent time with you in May this year! Great photo’s always! love mom
What a sweet-looking bird. Thank you for braving the elements and the bloodsuckers to bring us a daily dose of nature.