This was a life bird for me! Below are my photos from this afternoon.
For better images check out Paul Higgin's page. He also documented a Yellow Warbler feeding babies in a nest right under where the Prothonotary Warbler was being seen. The question on the table is whether or not one of those babies is a cowbird.
Yeah!! Glad you were able to see him and photograph him. Great snaps! This is one of my favorite warblers. They are just so beautiful. We're lucky we get to see quite a few in the summer.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I thought I might have to go to Ohio to see one of these. It's so nice of you folks back east to share your warblers with us out west every now and then.
DeleteLucky you! I keep missing them when they turn up over here. I'm glad you got some nice photos of it.
ReplyDeletePhoto-documentation is always good to get. This is a bird I've never chased before, so I can't say it was a nemesis or jinx bird, but it has long been one that I really really wanted to see. Happy Birding!
DeleteNice Robert!! Wouldn't mind to sneak a peak at one of those myself...
ReplyDeleteLooks like Tucson had a Prothonotary Warbler at the Sweetwater Wetlands in May and that they occur annually in AZ. Hope you get to see one soon!
Deletehttp://www.azfo.org/gallery/2012/html5/POWA_Sweetwater_Brooks_22_May_2012.html
An amazing freebie lifer! After watching this fierce creature chase a pair of Yellow Warblers for a few minutes, it flew straight towards me and a gal who were watching and landed 10 inches from her face! Talk about great looks. If that wasn't good enough, if flew right between us and began feeding from the tree we were hiding near. You could have touched it... I was stunned and for a moment thought I was going to have a heart attack. Nope, that was just my birding soul dancing a jig on the inside!
ReplyDeleteWe watched for another minute, high-fived, and moved on. Of the near 300 species I've observed this year, the Prothonotary Warbler is my favorite.
It was indeed a pretty easy lifer to get. Glad you got to see it Shyloh! Will the Prothonotary Warbler make an appearance the Shyloh body-canvas?
DeleteProbably not... I reckon the simple, yet deluxe yellow warbler -OR- a kinglet will be the next addition. Maybe a blue heron.
DeleteCongrats on the "lifer", Robert! They are a lot of fun to watch as they flit about :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim! Seeing your beautiful images of Prothonotary Warblers on your website has largely been the source of my lust to see this bird. Glad I finally got to see one.
DeleteOh Robert, what a find! Congrats, congrats!
ReplyDeleteI guess they are almost annual here in Utah, but you just never know where they will show up. Last year, a gal here in Utah had one in her backyard during the entire breeding season and photographed it, but didn't know what it was until after it left. Keep sending those eastern warblers our way! Please remember my forwarding address to the Boise area. ;-)
DeleteBeautiful birds and lovely photos Robert! How fortunate you were to see one in Utah!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very exciting bird for Utah. Looks like New Mexico gets a vagrant one there every now and then too.
DeleteWow, how interesting that a Prothonotary Warbler was seen and Utah. Lucky you! Congratulations! I'm always thrilled to see these beauties in Illinois during spring and fall migrations. Fantastic photographs, Robert!
ReplyDeleteKris Purdy is one of the great Utah birders and she finds a lot of really cool birds. I'm sad not to have had the honor of meeting her in person.
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