Tag: Wildlife

White-Eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

I discovered this photograph of the White-Eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) in the set I took a few weeks ago while on a photography field trip with Ray Hennessey. This morning, via an email exchange, Ray helped me identify this bird.

According to the Audubon Society website, the White-Eyed Vireo is:

A busy bird of the thickets, most common in the southeast. Although the White-eyed Vireo usually stays in dense cover, it is not always hard to see; it will come up to examine and scold a birder who stands near the bushes and makes squeaking sounds. Even when it remains out of sight, its snappy song is distinctive. In Bermuda, where the bird is common, it is widely known as "chick-of-the-village," a good rendition of the song.

I started using the Merlin Bird ID by Cornell Lab by Cornell University app for iPhone which I found via the allaboutbirds website. There is an Android OS version. It correctly identified every bird from the photos I took. How cool is that!!

White-Eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
White-Eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) · 27 April 2019 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera)

I took hundreds of photographs of this bird during the field trip with Ray to an area near Bear Swamp Preserve. I love the bright yellow features and blue-grey feathers. I was even blessed with a warbling performance.

The Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) is a small songbird belonging to the Parulidae family. It is primarily found in eastern North America, particularly in deciduous forests and woodland edges. This species has a distinctive appearance with blue-grey wings, yellow underparts (yes, bird wear pants), and a pale yellow-green back. It feeds primarily on insects and spiders, foraging in shrubs and low vegetation.

During the breeding season, the Blue-winged Warbler constructs cup-shaped nests made of grasses, leaves, and bark strips, typically placed in shrubs or small trees. It lays a clutch of 4-6 eggs, which are incubated for about 10-12 days.

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) · 27 April 2019 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

The Blue-winged Warbler is known for its relatively short migratory range compared to other warbler species, often wintering in the Caribbean and Central America. Conservation efforts for this species often focus on preserving its woodland habitats and managing factors that may impact its breeding success and survival.

Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) · 27 April 2019 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF100-400mmF4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR

You can learn more about Ray Hennessy's work and sign up for his workshops on his website]. You can learn more about the Blue-winged Warbler at the Cornell Lab All About Birds website.

Common Yellowthroat Warbler (Geothlypis trichas)

I am unsure about the identification of this bird but I think it's a Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas).

Abundant and well-known, the Common Yellowthroat has succeeded by being a nonconformist. As the only one of our warblers that will nest in open marshes, it is found in practically every reed bed and patch of cattails from coast to coast. Although it sometimes hides in the marsh, its low rough call note will reveal its presence. The male often perches atop a tall stalk to rap out his distinctive song, wichity-wichity-wichity.

You can learn more about Ray Hennessy's work and sign up for his workshops on his website. You can learn more about the Common Yellowthroat at the Audubon Society’s website.