Sometimes I blabber on too much in my posts so this morning I’ll try to make up for it with a short and sweet edition of Feathered Photography. This male Yellow Warbler was photographed four days ago in the Wasatch Mountains.
1/2500, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
I don’t remember if he was gleaning insects or sampling serviceberries (occasionally they do eat fruit) but like usual for warblers he was flitty and extremely difficult to catch in my viewfinder. Here he paused for long enough to give me several quick shots with a composition that works well for me.
I like the variable light on the bird, the natural setting and the sharpness of the warbler. In some situations I might find the red and yellow splotches of color directly in front of the bird distracting but in this case I think they make the image more interesting and I like them a lot. But don’t ask me to explain why…
I’ve posted quite a few warblers in the last few weeks but they’ll soon be gone and it’ll be a long winter without them. Some of our warblers (Orange-crowned in particular) already appear to have begun migration so us bird photographers have to take advantage of them while we can.
Ron
I like this bird but unfortunately he eluded me this year-never got one shot, so it is good to see this.
I know the feeling, Jane. I didn’t get any photos of them for years (none at all). Then when I did get a few (three I think) they were only mediocre. I didn’t get any nice shots until the last year or two.
Late comment here… I really love everything in this image- particularly the leaves and the shadows on them, and the berries…..and the bird too, and the fungus, and the blurred brightness beyond as I find it only right that this blurriness not play second fiddle to just any old flashy bird that happens to sashay by and try to upstage it.
You’re not late, Dave. Comments aren’t set to turn off until ten days after I publish. And I appreciate your comment.
I like everything about this photo too. The background gives it a special touch. Beautiful bird & picture.
Thanks very much, Jean.
Add me to those who enjoy (and learn from) your ‘blabber’. Blabberphiles united.
And thoroughly enjoy revelling in feathered enchantment I will almost certainly never see for myself.
“Blabberphiles united”
I liked that, EC. Maybe “Blabberphiles United” should be the group name for followers of Feathered Photography… 🙂
Blabberphiles United would be a great name for a garage band! 😉
“Blabber” on, Ron!! I/we love it….I, also, learn so much from your anecdotal tidbits….call it what you will 😉
I so appreciate you…Cheers!
“I, also, learn so much from your anecdotal tidbits”
I liked hearing that too, Karen. Sometimes when I throw in little personal bits like that I think to myself “Now why did I tell them that?”
I too appreciate your comments. I look forward to both the pictures and the narrative. You provide to us all a lot of what I like to call “aha” moments. As a former teacher myself seeing those moments in students was a highlight. So thanks for all you provide
Thanks very much, Catherine.
Ron, I for one, learn a great deal from you daily. If you want to call your teachings ‘blabber’, go ahead and do it, but please don’t stop doing it!
I like the photo of the Yellow Warbler and the background with the muted berries.
Thank you, Ron
Alice, I don’t think I babble all the time but perhaps I could a little more precise and still be succinct with fewer words. That’s a skill I’m working on. Thanks.
Your have a gift of combing beautiful photographs with stories that bring context, meaning and interest. You do it so well and consistently, which gives me, and evidently lots of folks, a nice way to start the day.
Very nice of you to say so, Lyle. Thank you.
What a handsome little guy! For the record, you’ve never given too much information in a post. 😀 But that’s me. I like the blabber.
And I’m sure I’ll continue doing it, Arwen – at least occasionally so you should enjoy it. Thanks.
Ron ,most of us “blabber” from time to time .unfortunately most of us aren’t imparting knowledge or sharing much needed humor in our blabbering . Keep right on blabbering ! I don’t think I’ve ever used “,blabber”in a sentence before today !
Happy to add to your vocabulary, Laurel – especially with such a descriptive term! 🙂 Thanks for the encouragement.
Beautiful Ron!
Charlotte
Thanks, Charlotte.
Good morning Ron. When I read the first line of Pam’s post, “I believe Western Yellow Warblers are not as bright as Eastern ones.” I started laughing because my first reaction was that she was referring to intelligence. Then I was laughing at myself realizing that she of course meant color. Anyway – very nice photos.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott Arizona
Good morning to you too, Everett. You’re always so cheerful and pleasant and I enjoy your comments.
And thank you.
I believe western yellow warblers are not as bright as eastern ones. Why is this a male instead of a female of juvenile? Is that enough breast “streaking” on a western bid?
Pam, I believe I’ve seen a number of males this time of year with no streaking on their breast at all. But I’m certainly no expert on the subject and I could be wrong…
I like this shot a lot. I actually do find those red and yellow dots a bit distracting. However, I’m guessing that they are actually berries, and so they work. This is another one of your photos where I’m very much impressed by the 3D effect. That really draws me in. And for what it’s worth, I enjoy your “blabber”.
It’s “worth” a lot, Susan. Thanks.
I’m pretty sure the red splotch is an immature berry but the yellow one may be a berry, a dead area on a leaf or even a fungus or rust. Who knows, but whatever it is it’s natural and I like it.
Great photo! Softness of color and this bird always seem to have ‘the spotlight’ on him! Those spots look like the backstage lighting that adds variety to the scene. Reading ‘blabber’ I thoroughly enjoy…listening to morning blabber…not so much! 😀
You’re right, they do look like backstage lighting, Kathy. I don’t know why I like those color splotches but I do.
And I agree with you about not liking to listen to morning blabber. Growing up on the farm everybody but me seemed to enjoy having the radio on listening to morning news and various “commentators” but to me it always seemed like an intrusion. I want QUIET in the morning – always have.
I not only enjoy your”blabber”, I look forward to it….and a great shot of a yellow warbler..Thank you
I appreciate that, Steve. Knowing how much detail to go into can be tricky…
Count me as the second who enjoys your morning “blabber!” 😉 Beautiful shot — to me those two splotches work well because they’re equidistant to the bird’s beak, so they send my eye back to the bird.
Thanks, Marty. Sometimes when I’m beginning to compose I post I have these words in the back of my mind – “keep it short, Ron – keep it short!”. But often the subject just doesn’t seem “finished” until I’ve written what some folks might think is too much to read. It can be hard to know when to stop…
Moderation in everything — including moderation! (Why yes, I’ll have a large order of fries with that…) 😉
BTW, no one is being forced to read the entire post, so write what you want and if some people are in the “TL;DR” boat, at least they’ll have gorgeous photographs to look at. Truthfully, I think we’re all here because we enjoy what you post and those teachable moments you give us every day.
“no one is being forced to read the entire post, so write what you want and if some people are in the “TL;DR” boat, at least they’ll have gorgeous photographs to look at”
Good point, Marty.
Good luck with classes starting tomorrow! Hope you get a few smart-ass kids just to keep you on your toes… 🙂
Beautiful! The bird and setting are great and show “him” off well along with his environment. 🙂 Also appears there are plenty of the fungi or whatever it is on the plant. Our warblers are “gone” for the year as are most of the birds that migrate. They knew what they were doing as it was cold/windy/rainy yesterday and 35 this morning – now it will probably get hot again but at least there is a reprieve from the smoke! Labor day weather a bit early this year. I for one enjoy your morning “blabber” 🙂
Yes, I’m noticing more and more of that fungus, Judy – probably for two reasons. I’m more aware of them now and they’re probably getting larger and easier to see.
Right now it’s looking pretty smokeless here too but it’s still dark. That bright moon makes it easier to judge though.
Thanks for appreciating my blabber when I do it but I’m pretty sure I go on and on too much, at least occasionally.