Male Yellow Warbler belting out a song in a Hawthorn – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
We’ve had a lot of rain, gray skies and clouds here in northern Utah lately which has meant that I have spent quite a bit of my time away from the birds I love to see and photograph so when there is the possibility of even an hour of decent light it is time to head out into the field to find the birds which is what I did yesterday. There was the possibility of decent light so it seemed best to head to the Wasatch Mountains and it was birdy!
I think some of the male Yellow Warblers I saw yesterday were singing just because it wasn’t gray and rainy, I know I felt that way but the birds sing better than I do so I bit my tongue and photographed the birds instead of singing. I’m not sure that this male Yellow Warbler could have opened his bill any wider while he sang while perched in a hawthorn that has begun to leaf out.
Female Belted Kingfisher with dirty bill and feet – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The nicest surprise of the morning was when a female Belted Kingfisher perched on a branch close to a creek and the road. The first time she landed on the branch the photos I took of her were messed up by movement but the second time she landed on the branch I was ready.
I noticed that the female Belted Kingfisher had a dirty bill and feet which may mean that she and a mate are digging a nesting burrow nearby.
Female Belted Kingfisher in a mountain canyon – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The female Belted Kingfisher moved on the branch a few times which allowed me to take several different poses of her, I especially liked this one where she seemed to have an eye on the sky and how it showed her dirty bill so well.
Female Belted Kingfisher near a creek in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Just before she left the branch she was perched on she raised her crest and even though I thought I was ready to take the lift off shots she took off towards me not to the right like I thought she would so those photos are a blur and will be dumped into my delete bin.
A few minutes of sunshine spent with birds lifted my spirits yesterday morning which is a good thing because when I look at the forecast it looks like the next nice day might not be until Saturday.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Belted Kingfisher photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my Yellow Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wonderful studies. Composition, color and detail. It’s all there. Thanks Mia.
Much closer than I got to my yellow butter ball, and I heard there was a kingfisher where I went, so have to go back. I love your images, well seen and captured! Enjoy the journey, I know I am.
The Kingfisher shots would have made a wonderful post in and of themselves — the Yellow Warbler is really “gilding the lily!” 😀 I feel like I got a little extra surprise today. He looks so happy. 🙂
You are so right Marty. Both are a delight to see in our predawn hours. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful as usual. I am happy for you getting out and about. This spring has been stunning with the cool temps and rain everything is so lush and green, sometimes it makes me feel like I am in Ireland.
Great captures of two of the more challenging birds to shoot because they rarely hold still long enough to nail the focus. Thanks for sharing these shots of a brightly-colored male Yellow Warbler and a female Belted Kingfisher with a dirty beak!