Monday, November 10, 2008

The Sweet Encounters

Sometimes encounters are all the more sweet because of the stories we hold in our hearts.
I came upon this beauty, along with the White-throated sparrow and the Song sparrow in previous posts, on my walk through Ijams Nature Center late last week. When I first spotted him, he was high in a tree. I took a couple of snaps anyway.I was glad I did. This was the only view I got of the yellow rump patch.
Enchanting. That subtle fall plumage against the yellows and blue, and the quiet of the moment. A rest along his journey?

It was only this spring that I got better acquainted with warblers as they were migrating through my yard. And it was with great delight that I encountered a Blackburnian singing in the low canopy, so close that I wanted to stop breathing for fear I would startle him.
I think my earliest futile efforts to see and identify wood warblers make them all the more endearing to me now. I count these up close visits among my treasured wildlife moments.
He/she's a bit shaded here...
but none-the-less a beauty. I thought I was about to lose him, when he once again landed on a branch close by with a bit of sunlight.
A yellow-rumped or a Magnolia? I keep waivering between the two. But the magic lingers just the same.
Note: The consensus from the bird blogging community is yellow-rumped warbler. Thanks everyone for your comments!

14 comments:

  1. Great sightings and photos of little birds. I find the little ones much more challenging than the larger species - but maybe because of that so much more special.

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  2. One birds photographer said that wablers move like electron moving around nucleus.

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  3. Mick,I so agree. It never occurred to me until I began photographing hummingbirds, that I could come anywhere near capturing these smallest birds.

    Tabib, that is a good discription! Though this one was quiet at the moment, they are usually flighty, busy eating and then on with migration.

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  4. My Vote is for the first year Yellow Rumped Warbler. I like their white eye rings. It makes their eyes look wide open and symbolically able to see perfectly in focus.

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  5. The little birds do play hide and seek with you. I am amazed how many good shots you did get in. They do flit around in the shadows where it is hard to get their colouring. Being serenaded is a very special experience. Lucky you!

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  6. Wonderful photos and lucky you are to get warblers passing through your yard. i have to go to the state park to see them.

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  7. Warblers are tough for me but this one I know is a Yellow-rumped Warbler. They are very common in our area and the white underside with only yellow SIDES separate it from the magnolia.
    You have some great images of it.

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  8. Bernie, that was my initial impression, too. I do love his eye ring.

    Hi Arija. My rare moments with warblers do feel special and very satisfying.

    Hi Tony. The migration through my yard was a chance surprise. When I discovered the blackburnian I was actually following the song of a woodthrush. What a double surprise.

    Thanks for stopping by Nancy. This was my initial impression, then I kept confusing myself the more I looked at the Peterson sketches! He is lovely, isn't he!?

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  9. Vickie, what a nice encounter and I definately vote for the yellow-rumped also. I usually use more than one bird guide when I have a difficult ID. Sibley's and Kauffman are my current favorites but I also consult NatGeo's guide and the Golden Guide. If all else fails, I go web surfing!

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  10. Warblers summer with us here on the mountain and are quite common. I'm afraid, I sorta that these flitting forest jewels for granted. Especially the Yellow-rumps. Thank you for sharing your quiet encounter. Bev

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  11. Thanks for the reference info Kathie and the ID reinforcement. I think I may be ready soon to get a fall warbler book. I just get so much enjoyment out these guys.

    Hi Bev. I'm still enjoying them all. When I photograph a warbler, I never really expect a good shot. That's one reason why these photos were such fun!

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  12. A magical few moments! What wonderful captures!
    Marie

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  13. Thanks, Marie. They were truely magical for me.

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  14. Thanks for leaving a comment. I love birds. We seem to have a rather large assortment of birds in our backyard. I love to sit and watch.

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