Signs of Spring

After being away for most of May in 2018, I vowed to stay close to home for the spring of 2019.  It's been a good month in terms of birds, and of blooms. Here a few of the birds that offered good views.

Orchard Oriole singing.  Male first spring

I've learned that a large number of birds feed on the blooming Crab Apple trees. Black-capped Chickadees hang upside down when feeding on the lower flowers.

Black-capped Chickadee.

Another participant in the feast is the Yellow Warbler.

Yellow Warbler, male

Away from the apple trees, another striking bird that arrives in May is the Scarlet Tanager.  They are a bit more difficult to locate since they prefer the extreme treetops.

Scarlet Tanager,  male

Enough of the birds, the blog is also about "blooms".  Besides, wildflowers are much easier to photograph - only if the flowers happen to be in good bloom (and the winds are calm and the light is good).  I have a list of wildflowers for which I  need a better example.  Highest on the list was Blue Cohosh.

Blue Cohosh in bloom

The colors are really challenging to get correct, and the Cohosh has a tall, spindly stalk that moves in the slightest breeze. 

For the next bloom, breeze is again a challenge; however, just getting extremely low and finding a clear, uncluttered view is added. So, I checked bellwort off my list.

Large-flowered Bellwort

And, there are some whose beauty just drives me to get a new result.  Once again, my knees got dirty getting low for the trillium.

Trillium grandiflorum

I never tire of photographing trillium. 

So, May has been a good month for photos, and there is still time to add some more.  There's a small warbler that I am researching now for a good setting.

Thanks for your interest.

Paul Schmitt

A Tale of the New and the Old- Blue-footed Boobies & Yellow Warblers

Saw an incredible variety of new birds during my recent trip to the Galapagos Islands. I'll begin with a short post featuring the most entertaining bird seen, the Blue-footed Booby.  At the time of the bird's naming the meaning of "booby" was essential a clown.  Actually, they are a graceful with a stately posture (most of the time).  

And, they are fast flying --like dive bombers-- projectiles that can slam into the water at any moment when they see prey.  In once place,we saw them in group formations exploding into the sea to catch fish.  But, the most endearing image is of a male prancing about in a high stepping display.  Isn't he handsome?  Well, he surely is to the females.

Let's go to a short video that captures the persona of this actor. (Probably best viewed a medium screen size or smaller..)

 So, on our first day we saw this entirely new bird and fell in love with it.  Almost at the same time, we saw an old friend from the Northeastern United States.  There among the salt bush and the mangroves was the same colorful Yellow Warbler, only they call it the Mangrove Warbler.  Still a lovely find.

Now, I am not a "counter" out to tally up a large number of species so I found both of these birds entertaining as I watched how they behave in this new found environment.  It is truly amazing how far some of these tiny birds can travel to find  islands 600 miles from the mainland.

Keep in touch.

Paul