Yellow Throated Vireo at Governor Bridge Natural Area

I was joined by 3 lovely ladies this morning at Governor Bridge. Diane, Dianne and Linda V. are members of the AABC and were able to get some time to explore with me, and we knocked ’em dead. Many warblers showed up early, along with some other nice birds, and the ladies kept birding while I searched for bugs.
A good time was had by all.

Sunrise at GB

Sunrise at Governor Bridge

Chestnut Sided Warbler

This Chestnut Sided Warbler was shot in the early morning light with a flash.

Yellow Throated Vireo

Yellow Throated Vireo

This Yellow Throated Vireo is from a couple of days ago. I didn’t realize I had it, and it’s a first for me.

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler 22

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warblers were still migrating in good numbers.

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

I was very lucky to capture two Cape May Warblers in one image.

Blackburnian Warbler 14

Blackburnian Warbler

I’ve never seen so many Cape May Warblers.

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

This Northern Parula was a mild surprise.

Northern Cardinal

This Northern Cardinal ignored us while he was eating.

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat seemed to be solo.

Eastern Phoebe

I couldn’t ignore an Eastern Phoebe who was so eager to pose.

Raven

This distant Raven is just here for the record-a first.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireos are fueling up for migration.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglets seem to migrate in large numbers.

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

This Tufted Titmouse has a real mouthful.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

This Yellow Billed Cuckoo hasn’t been around much recently.

American Redstart

I’ve always had trouble getting a good pose from a male American Redstart.

Caterpillar 47

Caterpillar 48

Insect 54

Insect 56

Locust Borer 5

Nursery Web Spider 6

Spider 67

Yellow Collared Scape Moth 2

Caterpillar 44

Caterpillar 45

Today's Bugs

Today’s Bugs

Carolina Wren at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Despite promising weather, migrating birds were scarce this morning. A sunny sky seemed to indicate a good day, but warblers were few and far between.
A Carolina Wren posed nicely, but the bugs were more photogenic.

Carolina Wren

Carolina Wren

This Carolina Wren stayed on a branch and preened for quite a while.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers are still easy to find.

Blue Jay

Many Blue Jays are passing overhead daily.

Wasp 13

Bee 12

Caterpillar 43

Differential Grasshopper 6

Grasshopper 14

Insect 50

Insect 51

Insect 52Green Stink Bug Nymph

Insect 53Green Stink Bug Nymph

Spider 65

Today's Bugs, and a couple of flowers.

Today’s Bugs, and a couple of flowers.

Black Throated Green Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Sunny mornings always seem to be the best, and today was no exception. A large flock of warblers showed up around 7:30, including many Black Throated Greens, Magnolias, Blackburnians and Chestnuts were there as well, and Red Eyed Vireos were plentiful. Although I’ve seen a few Ruby Crowned Kinglets, these are my first decent images.The bugs treated me well also.

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

Although I’ve seen a few Ruby Crowned Kinglets, this is my first image of the season.

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian Warblers are still migrating.

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

Black Throated Green Warbler

It’s my blog and I can post as many Black Throated Green Warblers as I want.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireos were feeding right alongside the warblers.

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warblers are marked differently in the Fall and Spring.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

Rose Breasted Grosbeak

I only saw two Rose Breasted Grosbeaks.

Spider 64

Praying Mantis 8

Insect 49

Caterpillar 42

Dragonfly 41

Fruit 1

Garden Spider 3

Caterpillar 41

Caterpillar 40

Bug 3

Wasp 13

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Tufted Titmouse at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Another gloomy, cloudy day kept the available birds to a minimum, and it was a disappointing day. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny, so we’ll see.
Even the bugs were scarce, but I did find a Dragonfly I’ve never seen.

Red Eyed Vireo

This Red Eyed Vireo was active in the early morning gloom.

Tufted Titmouse

Tufted Titmouse

The Tufted Titmouse is so common I often pass them by.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

The Magnolia Warbler was the only migrant I saw this morning.

Caterpillar 37

Dragonfly 40

Insect 47

Insect 48

Ladybug 6

Today's Bugs.

Today’s Bugs.

Green Heron at Governor Bridge Natural Area

A cloudy and overcast morning made birding difficult, and probably hindered the morning flight of migrants. I managed to find a few birds, including the FOS Ruby Crowned Kinglet, but it was a disappointment overall.
The bugs treated me better, and, with Graeme’s help, I captured several good bugs.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

This Magnolia Warbler foraged in a bush right over my head.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpeckers are good looking birds.

Green Heron

Green Herons are plentiful at Governor Bridge, but hard to photograph.

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbirds are still present in large numbers.

Insect 46

Leafhopper 4

Caterpillar 36

Grasshopper 12

Nursery Web Spider 4

Nursery Web Spider 5

Spider 57

Wasp 11

Wasp 10

Spider 59

Spider 58

Beetle 2

Caterpillar 32

Caterpillar 33

Caterpillar 34

Caterpillar 35

Grasshopper 12Today’s Bugs.

Garden Spider

This Garden Spider has captured a Cicada larger than he is.

Rose Breasted Grosbeak at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Even though we must be getting overdue for rain, I welcomed another cloudless day with great temps. I got to Governor Bridge around dawn, and 45 minutes later the birds started coming around. Once again there was a good variety of warblers, and a couple of other migrants made for a great day.
I’m including some birds and bugs from yesterday because I didn’t have time to process everything.

Sunrise at GB

The sunrise sky at Governor Bridge.

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanagers are appearing regularly lately.

Brown Thrasher

You have to like a Brown Thrasher who poses so well.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers are still coming through.

Northern Parula

Northern Parulas are also arriving daily.

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler
Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warblers must be migrating together.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

This Red Eyed Vireo posed very nicely.

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

Monorail Flicker.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpeckers are plentiful in Winter.

Northern Cardinal

This Northern Cardinal was enjoying the sunshine.

Tennessee Warbler

Tennessee Warblers are almost commonplace lately.

Bug 3

Caterpillar 30

Caterpillar 31

Caterpillar 32Milkweed Tussock Moth

Raspberry Crown Borer  3Raspberry Crown Borer

Spider 53

Spider 54

Spider 55

Spider 56

Today's bugs.

Today’s bugs.

Connecticut Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Warblers, warblers everywhere and hardly time to think.
I’ve wondered about my strategy of going to the same place so many times, but I wonder no longer. I was surrounded by warblers for an hour or so, including the relatively rare Connecticut Warbler. Several other birds made it into a near perfect day.
I did find a few bugs, but I didn’t spend much time on them.

Cardinal

Cardinals are year round residents.


Brown Thrasher

You have to like a Brown Thrasher who poses so well.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warblers continue to be plentiful.

Connecticut Warbler

Connecticut Warbler

This is the seldom seen Connecticut Warbler.
Cornell:”The uncommon Connecticut Warbler is a skulker of thickets, foraging primarily on or near the ground. It breeds in boreal forest and winters in northern South America.”

Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager Scarlet Tanager
Scarlet Tanager

Scarlet Tanager

This Scarlet Tanager is wearing his Winter uniform.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireos are also feeding rapidly.

Blackburnian Warbler 12Blackburnian-Warbler

Tennessee Warbler 25

Tennessee Warbler 24Tennessee Warbler

Cape May Warbler 4Cape May Warbler

Cape May Warbler

I thought this was a Blackpoll Warbler, which just goes to show how confusing Fall warblers can be.

Unknown 8

Unknown 9

Cape May Warbler 3

Tennessee Warbler 23Tennessee-Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler Blackburnian-Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler Blackburnian-Warbler

Common Yellowthroat Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

The perfect weather ended today, with cloudy, gloomy skies that challenged the photographer. Only a few warblers appeared, and they were most elusive.
The bug tour treated me somewhat better.

Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat
Common Yellowthroat

Common Yellowthroat

This Common Yellowthroat was foraging quite close to me.

Downy  Woodpecker

This Downy Woodpecker remained high in the trees.

Insect 42

Insect 43

Ladybug 5

Leaf

I just liked the colors.

Moth 14

Nursery Web Spider 3

Praying Mantis 7

Spider 49

Spider 50

Caterpillar 29

Insect 35

Insect 36

Insect 37

Insect 38

Leaf

I just liked the colors.


Insect 39
Spider 52
Insect 40

Today's Bugs.

Today’s Bugs.

Gray Catbird at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Although the weather was ideal, the birds just didn’t show up as expected, so I saw very few warblers. Those few didn’t cooperate at all, so I had to settle for a few residents.
The bugs treated me better.

Blue Gray Gnatcatcher 78

I was surprised to see this Blue Gray Gnatcatcher who’s a bit late to migrate.

 

Flycatcher

This Flycatcher may be an Eastern Phoebe.

Yellow Billed Cuckoo 20

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

 

 

This Gray Catbird really wanted his picture taken.

White Eyed Vireo

The distinctive song of the White Eyed Vireo will soon be only a memory.

Insect 32

Insect 31

Caterpillar 28

Spider 45

Grasshopper 11

This spider has captured a Leafhopper

This spider has captured a Leafhopper

Spider 47

Leafhopper 3

Leafhopper 2

Spider 46

Orange Assassin Bug

Magnolia Warbler at Governor Bridge Natural Area

Today was a bit more cloudy, but there was still enough good light for a few images. The warbler flock wasn’t as large or varied, but we still have two or so weeks of migration left.
I also found a few decent bugs.

American Redstart

American Redstart

American Redstarts are still passing through in small flocks.

Northern Cardinal

This Northern Cardinal has found a nice meal.

Chestnut Sided Warbler

Chestnut Sided Warblers are only seen here during mogration.

Magnolia Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

I’m still seeing a lot of Magnolia Warblers

Red Bellied Woodpecker

I’ve always liked the look of the Red Bellied Woodpecker,

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Northern Parula

Northern Parulas aren’t as common as other warblers.

Red Eyed Vireo

Red Eyed Vireo

Many small birds, like this Red Eyed Vireo, get quite acrobatic when foraging.

American Robin

This American Robin is a juvenile.

White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireo

White Eyed Vireos are usually more difficult to photograph.

Ladybug 3

Ladybug 4

Praying Mantis 6

Spider 40

Spider 41

Spider 42

Spider 43

Spider 44

Wasp 10Raspberry Crown Borer

Bee 10

Differential Grasshopper 4

Insect 28

Insect 29

Today's Bugs.

Green Stink Bug
Today’s Bugs.