Serviceberry shrub beginning to bloom – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday I wrote about flowering Chokecherries and how they are blooming bird food so today I thought I’d write about Serviceberries because they are more blooming bird food that is flowering this month. The serviceberries began blooming before the chokecherries and some are already dropping their flower petals. Unlike the chokecherries I can’t detect a scent when the serviceberries are blooming but that doesn’t mean they don’t have one, they might and if they do I just can’t smell it.
Blooming Serviceberry in June – Nikon D500, f11, 1/1000, ISO 640, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The flowers of serviceberries are snow white, delicate looking and they have been flowering profusely now for a couple of weeks.
Immature Yellow Warbler feeding on serviceberries – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Last year I photographed several species of birds feeding on the serviceberries including Yellow and Orange-crowned Warblers, Song-Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Gray Catbirds, American Robins, Western Tanagers and the rare Baltimore Oriole I found last August.
Lazuli Bunting female feeding on serviceberries – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I also photographed quite a few Lazuli Buntings feeding on the serviceberries. I’m probably forgetting some of the other birds I have photographed feeding on the ripened fruit and I probably missed some for not staying still long enough at the serviceberry shrubs too.
Utah has two serviceberry species, Utah Serviceberry and Western Serviceberry both of which are native and they belong to the Rose family.
Like the chokecherries I wrote about yesterday it seems that because of our wetter than normal spring the serviceberries are also doing very well so there should be plentiful fruit for the birds to feast on before they migrate this fall.
Life is good.
Mia
P.S. Least Chipmunks seem to love the ripe serviceberries too.
Click here to view more of my flowers, shrubs, trees, seeds, and leaves photos.
It is good to hear that some positive things are coming from all the rain. The juvenile warbler is so cute.
You sure do photograph flowers beautifully—among other things!!!
Echoing Marty K.
Lovely and refreshing.
So cool! Love the composition of your warbler pic and the serviceberry shots are extraordinary.
Lovely flowers. Looking forward to the plethora of critters that will show up at the far end of your skillfully wielded lens.