Yellow-rumped Warbler foraging on the bank of a creek – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times that bird photography isn’t easy. Two days ago I had a marvelous opportunity with loads of Yellow-rumped Warblers in a canyon of the Wasatch Mountains where the bushes and shrubs seemed to be dripping with them as they foraged near a fast flowing creek. Everywhere I looked I saw the warblers flitting around searching for prey or perching briefly before taking wing again.
The Yellow-rumped Warblers were hard to photograph because they didn’t stay still for long plus the settings were a bit messy between the bushes, shrubs, grasses and other vegetation which made focusing on them a challenge. One of the other issues was the width of the creek because there wasn’t even a remote possibility of getting closer to the energetic little birds, it was simply impossible. Plus I had problems when the clouds would move past and block the sun light from reaching the bottom of the canyon which caused my shutter speed to drop like a rock.
My best photos of the warblers were taken when they were near the bank of the creek because that is when they were the closest to me. Although this Yellow-rumped Warbler was in a messy setting I love the inclusion of habitat in this photo.
I took a couple hundred images of the Yellow-rumped Warblers as they flitted around in search of prey next to the creek and after reviewing my images I only found a few that I felt were worth keeping. I had hoped for more but it is what it is, sometimes that is the best you can do with the circumstances or the hand you are dealt. I still love what I do.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow-rumped Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
We had a bad winter for Butter-butts. Usually they are almost a distraction but not so this time. They were not only late arriving in autumn (which is usual) but the few we had around disappeared ASAP when spring arrived.
Sadly I have lost your images today. Not only for this post, but for them all.
I will try again later, and hope they have returned.
Thank you.
The images are back – and I love that butt. Lovely soft colours too.
Everyone sees these! I have only seen Yellow-rumped Warblers a few times in the wild. I am either blind or in the wrong location. Thank you for sharing a photo of this very allusive bird.
Good shot of the rump. Haven’t seen one yet, but I know they are around.
Beautiful, not seeing many in my hometown of Penn Hills, Metropolitan Pittsburgh PA. Robins have taken over in my yard, they are so dirty and I haven’t seen my little chicadees, Had to cut down our cherry tree, so they are living elsewhere, sad. Patricia