Warbler Migration Time

Magnolia Warbler

Joan and I enjoy spring.  It is a refreshing time and it is also a time when new life comes to the fields and woods. We look forward to little outings to listen to, view and photograph the warblers.  We had a great week in the Pine Creek Valley of North Central PA last week.  We enjoyed birding, kayaking and fishing and we were also treated to the annual insurgence of yellow swallowtail butterflies. 

The Magnolia Warbler pictured above likes marshy areas and seems to like coniferous trees.

We always enjoy hearing the Black Throated Blue Warblers along the rim of the Pa Grand Canyon. This tiny bird is hard to spot but sure has a hearty song.

Black Throated Blue Warbler

The bushes along hedgerows and the shrubs and bushes along Pine Creek and the Pine Creek Trail seems to be filled with the Common Yellow Throat and the Yellow Warbler. 

Common Yellow Throat

Yellow Warbler

The young sycamore trees along the Pine Creek Rail Trail at Rattlesnake Rock abounds with American Redstarts.  Below is a female American redstart.

Female American Redstart

The Northern Mocking bird is a sassy bird and it carries on forever with its mimicking songs

Northern Mockingbird

The little Black ad white warbler is a joy to listen as well as watch go up and down trees-it was once known as the Black and White Creeper. 

Black and White Warbler

The butterflies are always a joy to watch flit from flower to flower.  It is often hard to get images of them that are large enough to print as large prints.  Using a 600 F4 lens with three extensions tubes on it allows to stay back far enough not to scare them-yet close focuses so that a sharp image can be achieved. 

yellow swallowtail

Until next Time

Jim Borden