When I photographed this male Yellow Warbler yesterday morning in the high Wasatch Mountains, I was in the great company of my dear friend, April Olson.

Male Yellow Warbler peering out from a willow, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahMale Yellow Warbler peering out from a willow – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

I met April in the mountains yesterday and we had a nice drive together as we looked for birds and got caught up. We hadn’t seen each other since early May due in part to my extended journey this year to Virginia, Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. We had lots to talk about as we looked for birds and animals together from my Jeep.

Yesterday wasn’t particularly birdy but I enjoyed myself immensely. I was away from the city, I was out where there were birds, and sharing the morning with April was terrific.

Back to the Yellow Warbler:

When April and I found this Yellow Warbler he was moving around in a willow that was downhill from the dirt road where we were using my Jeep as a mobile blind.

I patiently waited until I had a clear view of the bright yellow warbler before taking this image.

The Yellow Warblers I am seeing now are preparing for their fall migration. They are finding and eating insects, eating the ripe fruit of the serviceberries, and some of them are finishing their molt before their long journeys to the south. The male Yellow Warbler in my photo is showing signs of molting feathers.

While I haven’t gotten many photos of this species this year, I have been serenaded by them in Virginia, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Utah this spring and summer and that has never happened to me before. They were singing yesterday in the Wasatch Mountains and that made me very happy as did April’s company.

Life is good.

Mia

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