One with feathers and the other with fur.
1/1600, f/5.6, 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
We’ve been hearing and seeing the occasional fleeting glimpse of newly fledged Yellow Warblers in a particular clump of willows in the mountains for a while now but yesterday I had my first chance for photos of one of them. I never got any great shots but seeing warbler chicks gives me hope for the future, at least symbolically, so today I decided to document the occasion.
It was smoky from wildfires and this little fella is partially shaded but it’s one of the better looks I had of ‘him’.
1/800, f/5.6, 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’d have liked this photo more if that out of focus curved branch hadn’t wrapped so closely around his body. But on closer inspection the photo provided an unexpected interest, at least for me.
It provided a good look at one of the still-growing wing coverts emerging from its sheath. Other coverts, whose feathers are in about the same stage of development, can be seen above and to the left of it but their sheaths are hidden by other feathers.
I found it interesting that at this age the much larger flight feathers are mature enough for flight (this very young bird could fly) but the coverts have barely emerged from their sheaths. I suppose that’s evidence of the survival value of flight, even for warblers of this tender age that are still being fed by their parents.
1/3200, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM @ 400mm, not set up, baited or called in
Later that morning and further down the mountain valley I found this very young Least Chipmunk foraging for food amongst the wildflowers. At this age they look similar to adults except for size – this little guy wasn’t much more than half the size of an adult. There were two or three youngsters scurrying around together but this one gave me the best photo-op.
There’s a lot going on in this photo (another way of saying it’s busy) but I like the unusual composition and the flowing curve of the rodent’s tail mimicking the curve of the two flower stalks below it and the colorful open flowers above it.
In this time of insufferable heat and devastating drought in the west, seeing feathered and furred youngsters provides a glimmer of hope for the future. At this point I’m discouraged enough to hope that’s not being unrealistically optimistic.
Ron
Thanks for pointing out the feather growing through its sheath! I had never seen that before, and I didn’t even know that was how feathers grew until I read your post (and looked it up later). I’ve learned a lot of cool things from reading your blog.
Life finds a way Ron. Don’t be too discouraged. At least we haven’t had the big kill off that occurred with marine life in the Northwest.
Not yet we haven’t, Brad. I hope not ever but I’m not convinced of that. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hope is fragile – but so very essential. And both of these charmers fan that fragile flame. Thank you.
Thanks, EC.
Amazing detail, that feather shaft! Which I might have dismissed as a small twig had I even noticed it to begin with. Such a sweet-looking baby (chipmunk too) —and yes, signs of hope, however small, that I will gladly take.
Thank you, Chris.
I was back up in the mountains yesterday to help out at camp again and got to see some youngsters (besides the campers) as well. There were several chickadee fledglings, a couple of chipmunks, and one young squirrel with “big, brass ones” who kept coming into the dining hall looking for scraps while we were cooking.
Seeing the next generation gives me some hope, but I am very worried about all of these young animals (and plants), as the mountains are already “September dry” this early in the summer.
We’re that dry here in the mountains too, Marty. The hillsides are the color they usually are in early fall. It’s scary and depressing.
Good for your squirrel with the big brass ones!
Your photos provide a bit of delight to start the morning. Thanks.
Good. Thank you, Lyle.
Hope is a thing with feathers. And sometimes fur. 🙂
That’s right, Arwen. I’ll take either. Or both.
The least chipmunk photo would make a great puzzle! Seriously, I love it, and I appreciate the hope both photos represent.
I actually thought about that puzzle possibility, Mary.
I’ve never understood the draw of spending endless hours putting those puzzles together but I know that lots of folks love doing it.
Cute! Interesting to see the feather just emerging from it’s sheath. 🙂 Chipmunk just cute even in a “busy” background.
The drought/fires/smoke IS oppressive and discouraging for wildlife as well as us. Getting REAL old and it’s a long ways until nature “may” handle it with fall rains and snow. 😞 The young coming along is always a bright spot. 🙂
Judy, even in more normal years it’s often not until December that we get much moisture around here. It’s going to be a long haul for us I’m afraid.
The little “miracle” of closeups continues to delight me with the wonders of the unseen, in this case those little covers so many thanks for your observant eyes and for sharing these. Unfortunately, as your last sentence reveals discouragement is giving way to despair for many especially in these ever more frequent difficult times and while little jewels like these do help keep us sane it is the impetus to keep on fighting harder and harder and struggling in every way we can to halt the madness and give these young the space to grow which enables this “Raging Granny” to go on with joy. Thanks for being a part of that.
Pat, “raging” is certainly an appropriate reaction to our present overall predicament. It didn’t have to be anywhere near this bad.
“Hope springs eternal” Alexander Pope. And yes young birds and animals in the wild certainly do give us hope. Those little Warblers are too cute, and the Least Chipmunks are one of my favorites. Would be hard to find a busier shot than the one with the chipmunk. Excellent and educational post once again. Look forward to these every morning I turn the computer on.
“Look forward to these every morning I turn the computer on”
Very good to know. Thank you, Everett.