Our Second Act-Take a peek with me…

I would like to thank everyone for their comments who have emailed, posted, texted or left me a voicemail message - thank you very much for taking the time to do that - I sincerely appreciate it. I continue to work on multiple upcoming posts to include shots from the end of May and June. For this post I decided to concentrate on this morning’s outing at Bullitt because I feel it gives you a real sense of what it is like to try and capture moments at this time of the year. So many birds are busy creating or tending to their little families while they try to keep hidden in the dense foliage or grasses.

So come along with me as we take a peek together…

I arrived later than usual - the sun was just coming up over the trees as I entered the wooded trail of the Pebble Trail. As soon as I had step foot on the trail I could hear the distinct and beautiful songs of Veery’s on both sides of the path. According to All About Birds -
“Males sing a famous spiraling, downward-fluting song. Females occasionally sing soft duets with their mates to help establish pair bonds”. No doubt I was in the middle of a male and a female strengthening their bond to one another - what a gift to hear. Instantly it set the tone for this outing. I stood still and set up while constantly scanning the woods to try and find the source of these glorious songs. No luck so I picked up and moved up the path about 6 feet and set up again - the songs were even closer. All of a sudden a flash when right in front of me from the left side of the path to the right side of the path and I was able to see it land up ahead. Just as I focused on this cutie it belted out its beautiful song - no doubt this is the male.

I just love this…: The next instant - gone - flew right out of my line of sight

As soon as I came out of the woods and entered the path through the upper field I could hear Common Yellowthroats and a Chestnut-sided warbler. I very slowly made my way a little further up the path so that I could get a better look where the sun was just starting to hit the grasses. Sure enough - a stunning male Common Yellowthroat with enough breakfast for an entire family! :)

Chipping sparrows were making their little chipping sounds all around me and then this female flew up and to my left in the perfect light.

The male Chipping Sparrow showed up right next to me to my right -

The full throated songs of the Chestnut-sided warbler kept teasing me… how could I not spot this little one? I set up and scanned and scanned… and a burst of color caught my attention to my left - landed below and to the left of the female Chipping Sparrow.

I love Song Sparrows - I just love how much I can depend on hearing them belting out their uplifting early morning songs. But this one couldn’t sing with a mouth full of breakfast for his family…. :)

I picked up and kept walking slowly towards the unmistakable song of the magnificent Indigo Bunting. Once again I could hear it so clearly but could not spot him. I picked up and walked a little further and set up again - still no luck. I picked up again and went a little further and then I could finally spot that blue color that just takes my breath away. The male was just belting out his morning song.

Once Mr. Indigo Bunting flew out of my sight I continued up the path in the field. The little gnats were now out in force so I decided to continue right along into the wooded path. Instantly the bugs were much better. I have consistently been hearing and seeing Ovenbirds and Veery’s at a certain turn in the wooded path. I decided when I arrived at that spot I would just set up and see if anyone appeared. No sooner had I set up when this young Veery flew very low across the path and landed down low. As quietly as I could I cranked the legs of my tripod down very low and kept trying to find a little “window” through all of the leaves and branches… and finally I could dial it in through the tiniest of openings to see this young one, with still so many pin feathers, listening to its parents on either side of the path. This just filled me up…

Continuing along the path I heard the splendid song of a Wood Thrust - it was close. I stopped still and set up. And then no song. I waited. And then up from behind me the Wood Thrust flew over my head and landed so close up and to my left I almost couldn’t focus! And he sang….wow!

I kept on going along the path and I came to an area where the American Redstarts have been teasing me consistently! They love being up high in the canopy and the sun is always a challenge in this spot but I always try. I set up. Almost instantly I saw a tug of leaves way up almost in the tops of the trees - I kept trying to track it. I lost it and then saw tugging a little further to my left - still way up in the canopy. I picked up and moved a little to my left hoping it would continue moving to my left. And then… a young and fuzzy with pin feathers American Redstart landed where I could at least get these two shots for you!

When I could no longer see the Redstart I headed out of the woods and decided to make my way towards the parking area. Just as I was getting to the dirt road this stunning male Northern Yellow Warbler landed and instantly belted out his extraordinary song!

I made my way to the little path across from the building - I wanted to check out the fruit trees to see if anyone was hanging around. As soon as I set up this male American Goldfinch landed in the pear tree.

Another Mr. Song Sparrow landed on the tree right next to the Goldfinch - once again with a mouthful of breakfast for the family.

I’ll close with my last two shots of the morning - of the peach tree and one of the pear trees.

It was a pleasure having you come along for a peek with me…

Take a peek with me…

Marvelous May - Part 1