Yellow Warbler on an old dead branch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning the second bird I photographed was a Yellow Warbler on an old branch in a smoky haze high in the Wasatch Mountains. The smoke did create a color cast in my images of the warbler and I am still not sure if I like it or dislike it. There is also a “softness” to these images even though the warbler is in focus.
The Yellow Warbler was near the base of an old, lichen encrusted branch when I first spotted it and it was farther away than I would have liked. But the warbler was out in the open, giving me great looks at it, and I was up in the mountains to photograph birds.
Yellow Warbler in a smoky haze – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Yellow Warbler did seem to be looking in my direction when I photographed it but it may have been looking at something else entirely. I’m simply happy that I got great views of the warbler’s eye and a catch light too.
Yellow Warbler moving up an old dead branch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When the small warbler started to move it hopped the old branch and I was able to photograph it as it caught some air beneath its feet.
Yellow Warbler on a smoky July morning – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
After the hop the small yellow bird shook it feathers and fluffed them up for a few seconds before it moved up the lichen covered branch.
Yellow Warbler tilting its head – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Yellow Warbler also walked up the branch and gave me this nice head tilt at one point. The slightly spread tail might indicate that the warbler was excited about something that it was seeing.
Side note: I have photographed other birds perched on this particular branch over the past couple of years. You might notice the tip of the branch looks like it has been cut off. That was done by the beavers that made a dam in this location. Just a bit of interesting info I wanted to share today.
Yellow Warbler near the top of an old branch – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The Yellow Warbler didn’t move all the way up to the very top of the branch instead it flew off from the location that it is in in this last photo.
At this time of the year it can be challenging to tell immature Yellow Warblers from the adult females and there are times I label them as female/immature because of that. After closely reviewing the images I took of this Yellow Warbler yesterday and seeing an obvious gape I believe it is most likely an immature bird that hatched this year. Whatever it is, I had fun photographing this Yellow Warbler.
Oh, I almost forgot… in my post yesterday I mentioned that I hadn’t seen any Spotted Sandpiper chicks so far this year. Well the first bird I photographed yesterday morning in poor light was a Spotted Sandpiper chick! It was older than the chick was in the photos I shared yesterday and it may have hatched somewhere else but I was delighted to see it and several adults yesterday morning.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Yellow Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
How you worked around the haze to capture these beautifully textured, subtly colored shots is so impressive. Thanks Mia.
Glad you spotted (😉) the sandpiper chick! Also glad this little charmer showed up for you so you could share the warbler with us. Love the little hop shot! 🙂
Simply beautiful. And even through the screen and across the miles a mood lifter. Thank you.
I really like the jumping shot and was fascinated by the smooth cut of the beaver cleaved branch.
This little bird certainly made me happy!
Me, too!!!