Plump Yellow Warbler male up close – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I haven’t seen a Yellow Warbler in northern Utah for sometime now and it is pretty safe to say that these birds has taken wing and have headed to warmer climes for the winter. I’ll miss their bright yellow plumage, cheery songs and their habit of popping up extremely close to me. There may be a few stragglers that are still in the area but chances are that I won’t see them.
Several times this breeding season I had male Yellow Warblers the came out into the open that were so close that I was glad I have a habit of turning off the limiter on my lens when there are bushes nearby or I would never have been able to focus on them. The males can become so focused on defending their territories during the breeding season that they pay no attention at all to the woman with the long lens directly in front of them.
This little male looked directly at me and didn’t seem to care that I was there.
Male Yellow Warbler in the peak of breeding season – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Nor did this male Yellow Warbler. Both these photos were taken in early June at the peak of their breeding season and they were far more focused on finding mates or defending the area around their nests than they were about being so close to me which gave me the joy of taking these photos of them.
I will miss these bright yellow birds while they are gone but I’ll look for them again come spring migration.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
I have trouble getting catch light in their eyes when I photograph this species– same with Bushtits and chickadees, it seems. Not sure why, but it looks great on this image. They are just getting down here to south Florida, but they are breeders from far east of Utah.
Wow!! The vivid colors playing against that muted background are stunning. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful splash of yellow.
Absolutely enchanting balls of golden sunshine. Thank you.
Yes the Utah Yellow Warblers are so beautiful. I always enjoy watching the Warblers around my area in the summer. A bright flash of yellow in the green leaves.
Beautiful, no other words describe these shots as good as simply stunning and beautiful!