Philadelphia Vireo, Douglas Park, 9-28-14
Last Sunday’s Chicago Ornithological Society/Illinois Young Birders Field Trip to Douglas Park in Chicago was well-attended. Fall colors had just begun, enhancing the park’s landscaping. Upon reviewing the warbler photographs, it’s interesting to see how the subtleties of the birds’ fall colors blend so well with the trees. For the most part the birds were too far away to get good photos but I’m including a few blenders-in anyway.
Magnolia Warbler
American Redstart
Bay-Breasted Warbler
Warblers are always a challenge to photograph. As it turned out, the Bay-Breasted Warbler above was the only one that sat out long enough, and still I am not entirely sure it’s not a Blackpoll.
I couldn’t help but photograph the back of this participant’s shirt.
Belted Kingfisher
Birds in flight were at least easier to find against the blue sky background. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that much white on a Cooper’s Hawk before, with this particular angle and the light.
Cooper’s Hawk
There were so many Chimney Swifts, all filling up to start that long flight back to Chile. It’s only because they were so numerous and at times flying low that I was able to manage a fairly clear shot.
Chimney Swift
Canada Geese flying might not be anything spectacular, but I like the way this flight pattern plays against the tree branches.
Canada Geese
and later, three coming in for a landing…
I could not resist taking a picture of the back of this participant’s shirt.
Below, the last Eastern Phoebe I’m likely to see this year.
Eastern Phoebe
All in all, it was the trees’ fall colors reflecting on the water that stayed with me.
I’m falling asleep sitting on the futon listening to the New York Philharmonic on the radio with intermittent thunderclap accompaniment going on outside. I’ll be back with more city visitors.
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I thought that your weather was in the cold side, however I can see that you had a nice warm day. I see the foliage has turned colors already. 🙂
The weather has been so up and down the temperature scale I can’t even keep track anymore. Sunday did turn out to be a nice day, 🙂
Thank you for the post. I continue to learn so much from this blog!
Thank you so much for your comment, Mary! I am inspired to continue. 🙂
Autumn at least offers the photographer a treat or two besides heralding dark days to come. I enjoyed your pictures.
Thank you so much.
Beautiful pictures in the mist.
I’ve been trying to pay better attention to what’s coming through my yard this fall…. the only one I could ID was an Eastern Phoebe, the rest were “blenders in” 🙂
Thanks, Frank! I think the camera has made me somewhat lazy, sometimes I identify birds hours after I’ve “seen” them. If you can pick out a Phoebe you’re doing great. 🙂
He (or she?) staked out the top of the swingset for at least three days. I had plenty of time to work it out 😉
That’s really great – you get to know a bird really well when you have a lot of time to study it, Like I never saw the rufous on the side of a White-Breasted Nuthatch until they started showing up in my yard. I have to figure out how to get the peanuts up and out of the way of the squirrels again,,,