A short trip for a young warbler. A meaningless journey to us perhaps but apparently it was significant for the bird.
Image techs for these ten warbler photos are in the range of 1/2000 – 1/2500, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender.
On a smoky morning in the mountains three days ago I spent quite a bit of time trying to get clear shots of Yellow Warblers in the willows but most of them simply refused to come out and play. This one was the exception. She wasn’t very close but she landed on a leaning bare branch with no obstructions in front of her and nothing distracting in the background so I was able to get a bunch of clear shots of her as she ascended the branch.
With yellow warblers it’s difficult to distinguish immature hatch year birds from adult females but I’m pretty sure this one is a youngster and a very young one at that. For the sake of convenience I’m referring to ‘her’ as a female.
She began her journey up the branch with a short hop. I didn’t catch her in midair…
but I did capture her immediately after she landed.
Then she looked around as if she was planning her next move.
Instead of hopping she simply walked most of the rest of the way up the branch.
Now her ultimate destination is in sight – the cut off end of the branch, or very close to it.
As she neared her destination she walked more deliberately and with more confidence.
Almost there.
This is as high up on the branch as she got. At this point she turned around and appeared to assess her accomplishment, apparently a momentous one for such a young bird.
Then she turned around again and took off. And no, I didn’t catch her taking off or in flight. These little warblers are usually too quick for me.
She didn’t appear to be searching for food, tiny insects in and on the bark, as she ascended the branch. It seemed to me that her intention was simply to accomplish the task of climbing it – no big deal to us or for most birds but perhaps for such a young warbler it was.
And it provided an excuse for me to feature quite a few sharp photos of a warbler out in the open, which are types of shots I don’t get very often.
Ron
PS – Some readers may recognize this cut off branch. It’s a favorite perch for a variety of species in a spot where I photograph birds often so I’ve posted other photos of birds perched on it including…
this Belted Kingfisher photo I posted nine days ago. Comparing this photo to the warbler photos above gives us a sense of how very small Yellow Warblers really are. The comparison also demonstrates the effects of the smoke on the light, making it much warmer in the warbler photos.
Love the photos showing the comparative size of the birds – their size is an aspect that frequently gets lost in my photos. Great photo series, thanks!
Thank you, Sam.
She’s an adorbler, alright! And your narrative of her journey up that branch is so perfect for these photos, which are—every one of them—just wonderful. (Altho’ the smoke’s impact beyond the color of light is disturbing to think about.)
Like so many other of your readers, Feathered Photography is the email I look for and open first each day, because you manage to capture the little joys (and some big ones) to be found in nature. And we thank you for that!
Thanks very much, Chris. And thankfully we’ve been mostly free of smoke the last couple of days, due to the monsoons that bring in lots of clouds and keep me home instead of going shooting, but provide little if any moisture this far north. Usually…
Good for her! I found my grin getting bigger and bigger and she worked her way up the branch. Am I too weird for being proud of this young warbler? 🤪
And of course, your title brought this to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOWN5fQnzGk
Oh, my favorite piece of classical music *ever* and you beat me to it, Marty! (GMTA, as they say…)
🙂 One of my faves too and Hilary Hahn does such a nice job.
That’s a pretty piece, Marty. It is indeed reminiscent of a lark or other bird ascending.
I too look forward to your stories and photos. First baby steps are always joyous, heartstopping but heartwarming experiences no matter the species
Thank you, Pat.
Without seeing your series today, I don’t think that it would have
occurred to me that young birds would ever be “toddlers”–so focused
as we usually are upon their fledging for flight –I found these photos to
be contemplative and appreciative of the daily learning and development
of a young creature……thanks!
” the daily learning and development of a young creature”
I’m not certain that was the situation but that’s what it looked like to me. Thanks, Kris.
I hope this statement does not make me sound weird..but you make my life so much better, everyday.
Take Care,
Kaye
Doesn’t sound weird to me, Kaye. It made my day.
A journey of two inches begins with a single hop. The view from the top appears to be magnificent.
Your photos reveal interesting stripes on the legs.
Thanks, Lyle. Actually the journey was over a foot. But still, a short one.
Cute! SO much to be learned in spite of all that’s “built in”. That branch would be appealing as it’s sturdy and clutter free……. 😉 They are tiny, quick birds!
Judy, that branch is a single uncluttered perch in a sea of tangled twigs and leaves almost everywhere you look. I’m sure glad birds like elevated perches when they’re exposed like this one is.
She’s thinking, I did it and I knew I could. Mission accomplished. Photos of her really look nice in that soft warm light. As so many of your Feathered followers have stated, it is not just the outstanding photos, it is the stories and the backgrounds that make your posts so interesting and informative. I look forward to logging on every morning.
“I look forward to logging on every morning”
Your confidence in me is much appreciated, Everett.
I hope I can keep it up. With this ongoing drought, the disappearing Great Salt Lake and all the development around here birds are becoming increasingly difficult to find.