Warbling Vireo And Fall Colors In The Stansbury Mountains

Warbling Vireo and fall colors – Nikon D500, f8, 1/250, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Yesterday was a little messed up for me but I still did alright. I left for the West Desert later than normal feeling like I was under pressure because I had to be back home and in front of my computer by noon to resolve an ongoing issue. I really don’t like to rush or be rushed when I am out in nature looking for birds.

But when the first bird I saw when I get to my location is a Peregrine Falcon things started to look up. I wasn’t able to get photos of the falcon. The first bird I photographed was an adult Red-tailed Hawk perched on a juniper in the foothills. The hawk was so relaxed that I left it where I spotted it because I knew I had to pay attention to time and I wanted to check out a couple of locations higher in the mountains.

I was delighted to find sparrows, towhees, tanagers, nuthatches and vireos high up in the canyon in a spot where I have photographed other birds in spring. I’d label the bird activity there as a 10 on a scale of 1 to 10. The angle of light in that location is a little tricky.

When this Warbling Vireo popped into my view I knew if I wanted to photograph it I had to hurry because these small vireos move fast. I started taking photos of the vireo and adjusted my exposure compensation setting on the fly. I also forgot that my aperture was set at f8 because the last subject I photographed was a Rock Squirrel in a sumac that was so close all I could photograph was its face. Oh well, my slip up didn’t affect the quality of this image.

The yellow color in the background of this Warbling Vireo image looks like a splash of sunshine to me. Not everything is as it seems though because that yellow color is actually created by out of focus autumn leaves in the distance. I was rushing so much that I didn’t pay attention to what kind of trees were in the background. It is probably a cottonwood but it might have been a box elder or linden tree. Whatever it was I am glad it was there because I like that pop of yellow in this photo.

Update: The tree with the yellow leaves is a Box Elder. I checked it out on a trip to the same location on 9/23.

The Warbling Vireo is kind of back and side lit. Typically I prefer to have the sun behind my shoulders when I am photographing birds. I am pleased with how this image and a few of the others I took of this Warbling Vireo turned out though.

On my way back down the mountain in my rush to get home I stopped long enough to take photos of another adult Red-tailed Hawk in the foothills that was feasting on a snake before I had put my foot on the gas pedal to hurry home. Now I feel the desire to go back out there and take my time own sweet time looking for the birds and wildlife in a much more relaxed way.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Warbling Vireo photos plus facts and information about this species.