Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler
While driving through Allegany State Park today, I encountered my first of the year Prairie Warbler (CHECK) singing in one of the abandoned fields near the Red House entrance. I slowly worked my way closer to the bird and hit the jackpot in finding a non-camera shy bird! I did see the female once but she wasn’t as cooperative as the male was! But I do feel that the female was close because I had suspected the male was following her around and singing his trilled song (reason he was ignoring me)! Other first for the year birds that I had today included the Alder Flycatcher (CHECK) and Willow Flycatcher (CHECK)!
I remember being excited taking this picture of it!
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Oh my! Those are beautiful shots! You have every right to be excited about that picture, but they are all wonderful. I bought a new camera this weekend, but haven’t tried it yet. I really want to be able to get great closeups like these…
26 May 2008 at 7:21 pm
Very handsome – and I think he’s purposely placing himself in the best spots to have his photo taken!
26 May 2008 at 7:31 pm
Tremendous pictures. It’s a beautiful bird, and I like the hawthorn spikes too.
26 May 2008 at 7:52 pm
Holey moley! Great shots, lighting fantastic. Applause, Applause!!! I wanna do me some of those!
26 May 2008 at 8:03 pm
Congratulations on an exquisite series of field photos of the Prairie Warbler !! Professional quality for sure.
I was wondering,and perhaps others ,like Rondi, wonder too, what it takes to get such fine pictures. Can you get them with a conventional point -and-shoot type, with a little zoom– or–does one need an accessory telephoto lens ?? What specifically do you use ??
26 May 2008 at 8:47 pm
ONe of my favorites and what good pictures.
26 May 2008 at 9:02 pm
@ Rondi – thanks so very much! I can’t wait to hear about the camera you got! I wonder what your first picture will be!
@ Shelley – thanks and I was very lucky to have it hopping around at eye level! Normally when I see birds they are a bazillion miles up into the trees!
@ Hugh – thanks and I liked the hawthorns also!
@ Zen – thanks and these are such great birds! Thanks for the Applause!
@ Cestoady – thanks and I blame it on the camera! I have been very happy with the colors from the new camera that I got. Depends on how close you get but I have seen some good shots come from a point-and-shoot with a big zoom (like 18x). All my macro shots come from my point and shoot camera but when it comes to birds like this . . . I am using my Nikon D300 with a 100×400 telephoto zoom lens. Of course getting close to the bird like in these photos took some time in watching, learning where it hanging out, anticipating its next movement, etc…. Then again luck is important for all the pictures!
@ Lisa – thanks!
26 May 2008 at 10:03 pm
These images are just breathtaking! Good enough for publication in any magazine! I’ve never seen the Prairie Warbler…he is magnificent!
26 May 2008 at 10:04 pm
Warblers are like little jewels and your pictures are wonderful. I find them to be so active. You are a patient photographer and the results are so worthwhile.
26 May 2008 at 10:44 pm
Stunning pictures Tom. This is the first Prairie Warbler I’ve seen. The colors are so beautiful. I’m sure your subjects know you’re coming, and will sit still just for you.
Thank you for sharing.
26 May 2008 at 10:52 pm
Hmm, I can’t remember ever finding those at Allegany… are they regular there?
26 May 2008 at 10:58 pm
Awesome pictures! You’ve outdone yourself.
26 May 2008 at 11:06 pm
Wow luck and talent. applause here also. Beautiful.
26 May 2008 at 11:11 pm
Wow, that second picture knocked my socks off! Those really are professional pictures. Great job Tom, great, great photos.
26 May 2008 at 11:36 pm
Beautiful Tom, the color in this guy is wonderful, I have been thinking about selling some back up equipment and buying the d300.
Do you see any problems or bugs in this camera and I take it you would recommend it ?
26 May 2008 at 11:55 pm
Excellent shot. Oh, I wished I’d had a camera Saturday when I saw a scarlet tanager. You should see the sketch I did, lol….
Great work, like always 🙂
27 May 2008 at 12:00 am
A very cooperative bird — thanks for sharing those great photos.
27 May 2008 at 1:43 am
Oh glory, how beautiful!! Nothing like trying to attract a female that will make a male ignore everything! Glad he was so distracted. ;c)
27 May 2008 at 6:36 am
Fantastic photos of the Prairie Warbler–suitable for framing!
27 May 2008 at 9:53 am
Wonderful captures of a great bird!! Prairie Warblers are very rare in our area, despite Illinois being the “Prairie State”
27 May 2008 at 10:00 am
what a gorgeous bird! I just love that eyeline – boy, that would have been a big time first for me! Congrats on a beautiful find!
27 May 2008 at 12:08 pm
@ Bird Girl – Thanks and you are now being very kind! They are great birds!
@ Ruth – They sure are and thanks for your kind words! Patients is important!
@ Becky – thanks and we have had them around some. I wish others let me get this close!
@ Nick – Sent you and email . . . Thanks
@ Barb – thanks and I miss seeing your post!
@ Toni – Thanks and you are too kind!
@ Linda – Thanks and you are very kind!
@ Bernie – thanks and the D300’s color is wonderful! I have not found anything bad about it yet! Do get it!
@ Dave – thanks and I always love seeing the Tanagers up close!
@ Mary – thanks and glad you enjoyed!
@ Jayne – thanks and gets distracted from the world! I just had good timing!
@ Joan – thanks but not sure it’s that good!
@ Birdfreak – thanks and I would have thought you had more of them!
@ aullori – thanks and they are stunning birds! Helps to know where they nested last year when finding them!
27 May 2008 at 12:38 pm
What a superb sequence!! Such a joy to see these.
27 May 2008 at 1:23 pm
Wow Tom!!! What fabulous shots of that Prairie-no wonder you were excited!
27 May 2008 at 4:04 pm
Excellent, Tom. All superlatives here. Truly a beautiful bird.
27 May 2008 at 5:52 pm
@ Monica – thanks and it was for sure!
@ Marg – thanks and was great to capture a shot of them!
@ Robin – thanks!
27 May 2008 at 8:51 pm
That last close-up is stunning. What a lovely bird.
28 May 2008 at 7:39 am
Mon@rch – I think they’re more common in central/southern Illinois but not up in the north part where I live.
28 May 2008 at 10:20 am
Outstanding pictures. Love the last one.
30 May 2008 at 11:28 am
Dear Tom,
When I saw these pictures my heart began beating fast. Wonderful photos! I must move out of the city! Your warblers are beautiful!
Going back for another look.
Wow!
Sherry
30 May 2008 at 9:59 pm