Full Moon Migrants

Full moon last night

(photographed at 12,800 ISO with Canon 1D Mark IV, 420 mm hand held)

Red-eyed Vireo up close and personal

Tennessee Warbler

It was a good migration night, with a full moon lighting the way for warblers, vireos, buntings, sparrows and many more migrant songbirds. We had this gorgeous Red-eyed Vireo in our garden in the Prairie Fire Crabapple tree. Right behind it was this Tennessee Warbler in winter plumage. Note the white undertail coverts. Tennessees are sometimes confused with winter Orange-crowned Warblers, who have yellow, not white, undertail coverts, a nice ID differentiation clue.

(Yes, I know, another way to shoot the moon is with a long telephoto, a sturdy tripod and lower ISO and I have done that, but sometimes it just so fun to use that 12,800 ISO setting on my Canon Mark IV!)