This Yellow-rumped Warbler, also known as “Butter Butt” paused as he was looking for snacks along the tree line of the rice field dike.
The warblers tend to be fast and elusive, usually working the inner branches as they move along a tree line.
It’s always a treat when they turn towards the camera, even though this is not the Butter Butt’s most colorful side.
An Eastern Phoebe flew up from the brush around the marsh edge and paused on this reed stalk.
I tried re-positioning myself to capture the bird with a sky background, but it was not to be as the Phoebe had other plans.
Pine Warblers usually stick to the trees but this colorful fellow was zipping around on the ground chasing insects.
These were taken at Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery, which is a haven for small birds. There are lots of trees for shelter and the grounds are only minimally kept up and harbor insects of all sorts. Many of the plots are bordered with granite edging which helps these small birds trap lunch.
Swamp Sparrows are elusive and quick. Their non-breeding colors are not flashy and help them hide as they hunt along the marsh edge.
If you are fortunate enough to see one land, he might hold still long enough for a photo.
This one actually flipped direction giving me both a left and right profile. The reed foliage is drying up, giving more spotting opportunities than a month ago.
I had been watching some small birds flit in and out of the underbrush at the side of the road. The sun had just come up and they were hunting for breakfast in the lowest, darkest parts of the vegetation. This Palm Warbler finally took a break in the sun on a reed frond.
I was able to get a few steps closer and get a few images at a different angle before he went back to foraging.
In the three weeks since I photographed an Orchard Oriole working on her nest I’ve passed by the tree several times and seen no activity. On Sunday a male was sitting on branches about 30 feet from the nest.
After carefully watching the area he zipped into the nest with the grasshopper. You can just see one wing and a tail hanging out the entrance.
The nest was swinging back and forth in a light breeze and the male made a quick exit.
My question, was the male feeding his mate while she sat on eggs or chicks, was soon answered when the female appeared with another grasshopper.
The female was coming in at a different angle and had to pause to get into the nest.
After delivering the snack she came out with a fecal sac and disappeared into the woods.
We drive through several miles of forest to get to the big pond at Donnelley Wildlife Management area. The tree canopy filters the light and somehow the little birds that I have a clear view of are seldom in a patch of light. That doesn’t stop me from taking some images and occasionally I get a keeper like this silhouette.
I recently posted that it took me almost three years to get a decent image of a Carolina Wren. Two days later another opportunity presented itself, complete with a snack!
When I first spotted this bird he was looking a bit disheveled and I wasn’t sure if it was a female Red-winged Blackbird, which are rather drab, or a juvenile.
He changed positions on this twig several times working to keep his balance. I’m leaning toward juvenile especially after seeing a hint of red on one shoulder.
Finally, he got it all together for a dignified look.
It took me about five of her trips to catch this female Orchard Oriole pausing outside her nest. I had first seen her dart up to the branch and then poof, she was gone. I watched this clump of Spanish Moss for awhile and saw it moving like someone was in it and finally saw a head peak out. The opening of the nest faces the limb with leaves.
Fortunately for me she was a creature of habit and flew the same pattern from the nest to a swampy area to gather grass and back, singing both ways alerting me to be ready.
On one of her trips she stopped for a look around before continuting on her way.
