Black-throated Gray Warbler in a willow – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This morning I am sharing two Black-throated Gray Warbler images that I took yesterday while exploring the canyons of sky island mountains in the West Desert.
I had stopped by a small creek when I caught a flash of black and white plumage in a willow which at first I thought was a chickadee. When I noticed two white wing bars and knew the bird couldn’t be a chickadee. My heart skipped a beat as I got my lens on this bird and I felt like shouting “Eureka” out loud.
The Black-throated Gray Warbler moved out into the open long enough for me to make a positive identification and to take a few images of it before it disappeared into the thick willows.
I have photographed this species prior to yesterday so technically this bird wasn’t a lifer. Truth be told though I was just as excited as if it had been. It has been years since I had a Black-throated Gray Warbler in my viewfinder. I was flat out excited.
Black-throated Gray Warbler perched in a willow – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
A few minutes later I was able to photograph a second Black-throated Gray Warbler higher in a willow before it too disappeared. I sat and hoped that another Black-throated Gray Warbler would appear more out in the open and closer to where I sat in my Jeep but it was not to be.
I believe that both of these are hatch year birds because of their smudgy gray striped flanks and because their eyebrows aren’t completely white. Neither is an adult male because they lack the black throat typical of the males of this species. They also aren’t adult females because they would have a black band on their throat.
Driving out into the sky island mountains yesterday was the right choice for me. I came home with a big smile on my face because of these two warblers.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see my Black-throated Gray Warbler photos plus facts and information about this species.
How lovely to not only see this rare to you bird, but to see young ones… How really, really lovely.
Awesome! I would still be smiling!
I’ve never seen this species. You’re right about a seldom-seen bird feeling like a lifer. Congratulations!
Great to see hatch year birds, always good news!
Very nice images! I was thrilled to see my first Black-throated Gray Warbler, just after being drafted and reporting for duty in El Paso, Texas on April, 1966. Quite an experience as I had never before traveled to the southwest USA. I My first (and only) photo of one, using my pocket camera and spotting scope, was in my New Mexico back yard in 2007. A memorable occasion, but I do not know the exact date. I uploaded it to FLICKR in November but do not think I saw it in winter. Since then I have made a point of including the Julian date of the sighting in the filename of every photo I process.
Ken, I looked it up and the last time I had a Black-throated Gray Warbler in my viewfinder was 05/02/2011 down at the Wedge in Emery County. That was an adult male but he never once gave me direct eye contact.