{"id":58627,"date":"2019-06-18T05:01:43","date_gmt":"2019-06-18T11:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=58627"},"modified":"2025-08-15T04:52:53","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T09:52:53","slug":"high-uinta-warbling-vireo-so-close-i-couldnt-photograph-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2019\/06\/18\/high-uinta-warbling-vireo-so-close-i-couldnt-photograph-it\/","title":{"rendered":"High Uinta Warbling Vireo So Close I Couldn’t Photograph It"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"InquisitiveInquisitive looking Warbling Vireo \u2013 Nikon D500, f6.3, 1\/1250, ISO 800, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

It almost doesn’t need saying that being a bird photographer isn’t easy and that it can be frustrating at times but I am saying it again. Last week I drove up into the High Uinta Mountains by way of the open sections of Mirror Lake Highway because I hadn’t been up there yet this year and because I wanted to check out the bird activity. Normally by now the highway is open all the way to Evanston, Wyoming but because of heavy snow this year parts of it are still closed.<\/p>\n

I checked out some of the areas I have known to be birdy in the past and photographed some Pine Siskins and a close flycatcher that I have yet to identify but my real bird photography frustration came as I checked out some of the dirt side roads off of the main paved road. I had pulled off onto a narrow dirt road lined on one side by small aspens and a few conifers that had a disperse campsite on the other side and I could hear birds in the wooded side which was to my delight the side of my Jeep that I could photograph from easily. Or so I thought.<\/p>\n

I spotted a Warbling Vireo moving around in the small aspens, shut off the engine and hoped I could get photos of the singing vireo but to my dismay the vireo moved in so close to me that I couldn’t use my D500 with the 500mm lens attached, it was so close I could not focus on the bird because of the minimum focusing distance limit of my lens. I had my D810 out with a 18 to 200mm lens attached but I couldn’t even use that because of the angle of my Jeep in the narrow dirt road plus the vireo had moved so I could only see it through my windshield and I had zero room left on road to maneuver into a position where I could actually photograph the Warbling Vireo. The vireo was so close that if I could have stepped out of my Jeep that in two steps I could have touched it while it sang.<\/p>\n

It was frustrating to me because I only have a few images of Warbling Vireos in my portfolio and I wanted so badly to add photos of the one I saw so close to me.<\/p>\n

I had this gorgeous Warbling Vireo up close singing its tiny heart out and I couldn’t photograph it so I sat and watched it sing<\/span><\/a> and move around in the aspens. I have no photos of it that I can share but I do have the memory of it that I can.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good even with frustrations.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

The Warbling Vireo in the photo above was taken last September in the Wasatch Mountains.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Warbling Vireo photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I had this gorgeous Warbling Vireo up close singing its tiny heart out and I couldn’t photograph it so I sat and watched it sing and move around in the aspens.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":133050,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,4594,26,6709],"tags":[4004,5477,4897,3940,6531,5436,4069,6532,6716,6711,6717,16661],"class_list":["post-58627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-morgan-county","category-utah","category-warbling-vireos","tag-adult","tag-autumn-colors","tag-branch","tag-canyon","tag-chokecherry","tag-fall-colors","tag-mountains","tag-prunus-virginiana","tag-vireo","tag-vireo-swainsoni","tag-vireos","tag-western-warbling-vireo"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-autumn-vertical-mia-mcpherson-2728.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-ffB","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":105123,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/18\/warbling-vireo-and-ripe-chokecherries\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":0},"title":"Warbling Vireo And Ripe Chokecherries","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 18, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"One of the birds that I photographed in Morgan County two days ago was this lovely Warbling Vireo perched alongside of ripe chokecherries. I was excited to see it.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Warbling Vireo with ripe chokecherries, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/warbling-vireo-chokecherries-mia-mcpherson-5257.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/warbling-vireo-chokecherries-mia-mcpherson-5257.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/warbling-vireo-chokecherries-mia-mcpherson-5257.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/warbling-vireo-chokecherries-mia-mcpherson-5257.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":152261,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2025\/08\/15\/warbling-vireo-split-eastern-and-western-warbling-vireos\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":1},"title":"Warbling Vireo Split – Eastern And Western Warbling-Vireos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Some birders may have added a new life bird yesterday when the AOS split the Warbling Vireo into two species: Eastern and Western Warbling-Vireo.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Summer Western Warbling-Vireo in the Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/warbling-vireo-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-1300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/warbling-vireo-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-1300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/warbling-vireo-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-1300.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/warbling-vireo-serviceberry-mia-mcpherson-1300.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":115342,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/08\/22\/warbling-vireo-in-a-willow\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":2},"title":"Warbling Vireo In A Willow","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 22, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, I was glad to have this Warbling Vireo in my viewfinder when I was high up in the Wasatch Mountains with my dear friend, April Olson.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Warbling Vireo in a willow, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/warbling-vireo-willow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7612.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/warbling-vireo-willow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7612.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/warbling-vireo-willow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7612.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/warbling-vireo-willow-mountains-mia-mcpherson-7612.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53950,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/09\/04\/warbling-vireo-with-autumn-colors-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":3},"title":"Warbling Vireo With Autumn Colors In Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 4, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I looked up and spotted a Warbling Vireo not only out in the open plus it had gorgeous fall colors in the background. I locked focus onto the vireo and started taking images in a long burst!","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Warbling Vireo perched on a Chokecherry branch, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-2687.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-2687.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-2687.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-2687.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":73979,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2020\/09\/22\/warbling-vireo-and-fall-colors-in-the-stansbury-mountains\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":4},"title":"Warbling Vireo And Fall Colors In The Stansbury Mountains","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"September 22, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"When this Warbling Vireo popped into my view I knew if I wanted to photograph it I had to hurry because these small vireos move fast.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Warbling Vireo and fall colors, Stansbury Mountains, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-1384.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-1384.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-1384.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/warbling-vireo-fall-colors-mia-mcpherson-1384.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":53535,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/08\/12\/warbling-vireo-in-a-wasatch-mountain-canyon\/","url_meta":{"origin":58627,"position":5},"title":"Warbling Vireo In A Wasatch Mountain Canyon","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 12, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"My chances of getting the Warbling Vireo photos I have dreamed of were awful but I went up into the canyon anyway.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Warbling Vireo in a mountain canyon, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-mia-mcpherson-2713.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-mia-mcpherson-2713.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-mia-mcpherson-2713.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/warbling-vireo-mia-mcpherson-2713.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58627\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/133050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}