- Post score: 18
- #1
Spring Migration was fantastic this year. After a long, drawn out winter and unfavorable weather during April/early May, things really got rolling around the middle of May with seemingly large waves swinging through out of nowhere. In my previous two Wisconsin threads, I shared shots of the early arrivals (Yellow-rumps, Palm, Yellow Warblers), and this time around I finally get to share some of the "premium" warblers I encountered.
The middle of the month saw me at a camp site that I'd reserved a few months back, and I was in the right place at the right time to see what I consider my all-time best birding. Sound ID from Merlin had anywhere from 15-25 species in one spot, at any given time, the area was absolutely saturated with both migrant and resident birds. In this particular spot though, the star of the show were the Cerulean Warblers:
I also got to see a lifer for me, my first Blackburnian Warblers. It was raining that day, the light challenging, but at least the conditions brought the birds down closer to the ground. This is the species on the top of my list that I'll continue to pursue, as I really want a nicer, cleaner shot!
Around that same area, a rare-ish Golden-winged Warbler stopped in and inspected the goings-on. Both this shot, and the Blackburnian above, were insanely challenging for me in post to get the right colors. I've noticed with the Z9 and Z8 a tendency to bath everything in a green tint. If anyone has any tips on combating this (in camera or in post), please let me know.
Finally, with some better weather (and some nice diffusion thanks to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires), I was able to get a clean shot of a Chestnut-sided, and a furtive Magnolia:
Overall, it was the best Spring migration I've experienced yet. So much action, tons of birds, so much so that I'm now kinda burnt out on birding and am taking a little break! There were a number of other species that I saw, but couldn't cash in on: Bay-breasted, Canada Warbler, Tennessee, Kentucky, Prothonotary. I actually ended the trip in my front yard, where a Cape May Warbler was hanging out for a few days:
Hope you all enjoy these photos, as it was a blast getting to see these little birds in action!
The middle of the month saw me at a camp site that I'd reserved a few months back, and I was in the right place at the right time to see what I consider my all-time best birding. Sound ID from Merlin had anywhere from 15-25 species in one spot, at any given time, the area was absolutely saturated with both migrant and resident birds. In this particular spot though, the star of the show were the Cerulean Warblers:
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
I also got to see a lifer for me, my first Blackburnian Warblers. It was raining that day, the light challenging, but at least the conditions brought the birds down closer to the ground. This is the species on the top of my list that I'll continue to pursue, as I really want a nicer, cleaner shot!
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Around that same area, a rare-ish Golden-winged Warbler stopped in and inspected the goings-on. Both this shot, and the Blackburnian above, were insanely challenging for me in post to get the right colors. I've noticed with the Z9 and Z8 a tendency to bath everything in a green tint. If anyone has any tips on combating this (in camera or in post), please let me know.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Finally, with some better weather (and some nice diffusion thanks to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires), I was able to get a clean shot of a Chestnut-sided, and a furtive Magnolia:
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Overall, it was the best Spring migration I've experienced yet. So much action, tons of birds, so much so that I'm now kinda burnt out on birding and am taking a little break! There were a number of other species that I saw, but couldn't cash in on: Bay-breasted, Canada Warbler, Tennessee, Kentucky, Prothonotary. I actually ended the trip in my front yard, where a Cape May Warbler was hanging out for a few days:
You can only see EXIF info for this image if you are logged in.
Hope you all enjoy these photos, as it was a blast getting to see these little birds in action!
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