Chirps and Cheeps

I wasn't sure what I was looking at early Wednesday morning at Tifft - except for the fact that it was a warbler. I took many photos of this handsome bird and then a little later, at home with my guides, I was able to narrow it down to an Orange-crowned Warbler. I received confirmations from a couple of other birders on the ID, so I was very happy as this is yet another lifer! (Thanks Betsy, Willie, and Doug!)

I found the Orange-crowned Warbler in a low, blossoming tree. Since these warblers eat both insects and nectar (berries and sap too!), it was hard to tell if it was going for the nectar in the blossoms or the insects hovering around the blossoms. Regardless, the blossoms made for nice accents in the photos.

Other highlights at Tifft included a Black and White Warbler, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, many Yellows and Yellow-rumped, as well as some White-crowned and White-throated sparrows. I also had fun watching a Warbling Vireo take a bath and a House Wren come and go into his home - a hole in a log.

I never found the Northern Waterthrush, which was my quest for the morning.  I guess that has become my new nemesis bird now that I found an American Woodcock!  And I assumed that my good luck at finding the Louisiana Waterthrush the day before would somehow make finding this guy easier - NOT!

Later on, a Golden-winged Warbler was found by Tim M in Amherst State Park. Since I was going out that way to meet my parents, sister, and daughter for dinner, I thought I'd stop in just to see if I could find it. It had been raining on and off so I'm not sure if that caused the bird to retreat into cover but I had no luck finding that one. I did, however, find my FOY Great Crested Flycatcher, which gave some great views.