Yellow Warbler and ripe serviceberries – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
In my most recent Cedar Waxwing post I mentioned that over the next four or five weeks that I’ll be sharing photos of birds in serviceberries because some of them are feasting on the ripe berries now. This Yellow Warbler was photographed the same day on the same serviceberry as the waxwing and the immature MacGillivray’s Warbler I recently wrote about.
I also photographed a Virginia’s Warbler, an immature Western Tanager, an Orange-crowned Warbler and a flycatcher in that same serviceberry during the relatively short period of time that I was at the shrub. That serviceberry is a bird magnet right now because of the juicy berries.
Several Yellow Warblers flew into the serviceberry and in this photo I can see that this female has been feeding on the ripe berries because her lower mandible has a juicy residue on it. The Yellow Warblers are getting ready to migrate and have begun to supplement their diet of insects and spiders with the ripe serviceberries. They will need all the energy they can get to complete their fall migration which is only a few weeks away now.
To me it feels like the Yellow Warblers only recently arrived but they have mated, nested, incubated, and raised their chicks. Those young warblers have fledged, are already on their own, and are now getting ready for their first ever migration. Spring and summer have flown by.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
So lovely with the colors and composition.
Thank you (so much) for this life affirming splash of colour and beauty.
I echo Heather’s comment, heartily! What a fantastic shot!
Love the way the yellow of the warbler stands out amongst the background of the serviceberry.
Perfect shot