The light was low and it was raining off and on as we made our way around the board walk over the swamp at Beidler Forest, a property managed by Audubon South Carolina. I heard a warbler calling way before I saw this bird and his mouthful of bugs.
I was quite surprised he was so close to the boardwalk. He moved to different branches a few times, keeping a tight grip on his bug collection. After a couple minutes he flew out of my sight.
Further on I spotted another Prothonotary Warbler bringing food to a nest in a Cypress Knee. It was even darker then and rain was about to fall in earnest. The image is not great but you can get an idea of where these warblers rear their young.
Both of these birds were banded, part of a research project to study their migration.
Beidler is the world’s largest virgin cypress-tupelo swamp forest — a pristine ecosystem untouched for millennia.
Audubon South Carolina
What a terrific reserve to enjoy, and the birds to go with it! Beautiful shots Ellen.
It is, Belinda, and less than an hour away so we should go more often. Thanks.
How lucky you are😊
Gorgeous images, Ellen, even though the low light, the rain ‘popped’ the Prothonotary Warbler’s bright coloring. And that is a mouthful of insects! Also love the habitat shot and those cypress knees!
Thanks, Donna! I hope to get back there soon on a brighter day and get some views into the swamp and hopefully the water level will come up. Other times I’ve been there those knees are surrounded by water, currently it is just mud.
Beautiful photos of this wonderfully bright bird, Ellen! That last image is so interesting with the bright yellow of the bird set back yet coming forward of the darker areas of the image. Beautiful greens, too.
Thanks, Pete, glad you liked them! I took some more shots of that last one reaching down into the hole then backing out–regretfully not very good quality. It was very interesting to see where the nest was tucked in.
Amazing photos Ellen !! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thanks, Liz!