The tiny and the puzzle

I knew who that was in the grass, the handsome flicker. Not possible to get closer. Also this is the position most perilous for the flicker,.. head down. a hawk could swoop down and make it a meal.
This is the puzzle bird, either a female or young indigo bunting or maybe a young blue grosbeak, but I'll err on the side of indigo bunting. We studied each other. I just knew it was something I'd never seen before.

They're back, my beloved kinglets. Hummers are hard to photograph because they zoom past so fast. Kinglets are hard because they're also tiny and flit very fast.

They're there and then they're gone, flit-scooter birds.

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More preening

I started down the woodchip path very slowly because you never can tell what lies around the bend. This sweet phoebe was busy shagging flies, flew practically to my lens then veered back to the perch branch. I decided to stand and wait,...

Fortunately the camera was still in shoot position, because what happened next never happens. This female redstart flew to the ground at my feet, lay down in the warm wood chips and anted (let ants clean her wings), enjoyed the warmth, preened. She stayed at my feet for almost 6 minutes. I must have looked like a tree, because she never reacted to my presence. When preening was complete she flew off into the bushes. When I say "at my feet", that's what I mean. Extraordinary.

This is the little bird that is usually so skittish that all you see is the tail going over the fence in a flash. This was quality time. Total trust. That sun felt very good.

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Sharing privacy

I saved this photo op taken on Sept. 22nd for last. Blossoms are withering now, hummers departing. There was nothing I could do to change the lighting situation. I was backed into a holly bush, thorns penetrating my denims. What counted was that the hummer allowed me to share in this private moment. She knew I was watching, but she tolerated my presence. In my mind and heart the hummer is a gigantic treasure.

That's it for this season. More hummers next August (hopefully).

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Always looking

The best thing to do at this time of year is stroll and watch for movement. My pal said that there are never birds in this particular tree. "The birds don't like it". Well, apparently nobody told this black-throated green warbler, because it spent some time dining on bugs in the tree.

Around the path, all quiet, Mrs. Black-throated Blue warbler also hunting bugs.

Warning Light Mrs. Redstart.

Squabblers, two water thrushes facing off. In their minds there aren't enough bugs for two little birds. Territorial competition. With "yelling".

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Here and there

I almost didn't make it to the park. We had visitors in the backyard on West End Avenue....
The blackpole,

The common yellow throat warblers, female and male,

a water thrush.

Forms and colors in the park....

Why does the black-throated blue warbler cross the road?

To get to the other side, naturally.

Black and white warbler

A favorite, fascinating duck visitor

Buckeye butterfly

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