Indigo Buntings are Migrating!

Indigo Bunting

Indigo Bunting

Northern Parula

Indigo Bunting

Bird migration still occurring here in SW FL and lots more to come. Yesterday it was all about Indigo Buntings, many still molting and a few other warblers such as this Northern Parula. Also seen were Hooded Warblers and Prothonotary Warblers. They land in the native vegetation at the Sanibel lighthouse park and feast on the fig fruits, replenishing their reserves after their long journey across the Gulf of Mexico. Soon they will come to you!

Acrobatic Northern Parula Warbler and Prairie Warblers

Northern Parula

Northern Parula 

Prairie Warbler

Prairie Warbler

Several migrant Northern Parulas at the Sanibel lighthouse, FL today, one demonstrating acrobatic foraging and coming up with a juicy prize! You have to admire the ability of this warbler to hang upside down.These migrants are hungry, they have just crossed the Gulf of Mexico!! Also there were several Prairie Warblers. Note the red stripes on the back of one male, not always visible. These warblers will be coming your way soon. For more on how to ID them see our The New Stokes Field Guide To Birds, east or west editions.

Northern Parula, Canon SX 50 HS, Up Close!

So here's another up-close-and-personal photo, uncropped, of a Northern Parula, female, at the Sanibel Lighthouse yesterday, taken with my Canon SX 50 HS at 200x (4800mm equivalent), 400% digital zoom, handheld, AV, 1/500, f6.5, ISO 400. Note, this is way beyond the usual 50x optical range of the camera, into the far end of the digital range. Challenging shot, because, as you know, warblers don't hold still. This one was feeding, moving through a dense bush, then paused for a moment. That's when I zoomed in for this shot.
Yes, I know, at that powerful a telephoto range the photo is more painterly and not as detailed an image as a DSLR (like my incredible Canon 1D Mark IV) would take. Then again, I would never get this close a photo, without cropping. I am addicted to getting these eyeball type shots, they give you such an intimate and magical view of the bird. I love the power of the telephoto on the Canon SX 50 HS, yet it is so light and portable.
(P.S. If you have this camera and want my tips on how to use it, email me. Email link is on top right of this blog.)
Lillian

Blue-winged Warbler and more migrants

This afternoon, after seeing all the swallows migrate in the morning, we returned to the Sanibel Island, FL lighthouse and more migrants had come in. We saw this wonderful Blue-winged Warbler in a bush.

Then we saw this little Northern Parula Warbler who had been eating fruits from a Gumbo Limbo tree. There were also handfuls of Indigo Buntings and a few Palm Warblers. These birds had come in across the Gulf of Mexico and encountered the strong north wind shift. So they landed and sought shelter and food.

Northerly winds expected tomorrow, more migrants possible.

Who-Cooks-For-You

We just visited Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and the highlight was this Barred Owl. Barred Owls nest there in hollow trees and, if you're lucky, you will see one sitting right next to the boardwalk. Their hooting sounds like, "Who-Cooks-For-You."

It's not just the birds that give you special moments there. This beautiful Ruddy Daggerwing butterfly posed on a leaf out in the water.

A Great Egret balanced on the boardwalk rail, its breeding plumes hanging down like a bridal veil.

Northern Parula Warblers were everywhere in the low light of the Cypress forest canopy, some were singing and about to migrate.

Black-crowned Night-Herons were active, even though it was daylight.

Beauty is where you find it when you're a photographer like I am, and its often right in front of your nose. I don't pass up a photo up just because it's a common bird, like this White Ibis.

Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Sanctuary, in Naples, Florida, is a magical place, be sure and visit when you go to south Florida.