Do You Warble?

This past weekend was our Victoria Day long weekend.  It has become traditional to open the cottages up this weekend, and a lot of people refer to it as May Two-Four weekend, referring to the beer that will be consumed rather than the date of May 24.  We don't have a cottage, so no need to hit the highway with throngs of others to air out the cottage and see what damage Old Man Winter has done to it.  I imagine there were some unexpected surprises in cottage country after all that snow we received this past winter.

I visited my dear old (so old!) dad on Saturday, and visited a nice park on the lakeshore.  He can barely walk now, and he toddled over to a bench with cane in one hand and our arms linked to save him falling.  He's one stubborn man, and like he always used to quote to us "there's no fool like an old fool".  If he would agree to the use of a wheelchair, a more adventurous visit to the park awaits him.  "Don't make me into an invalid!" he barks, so we resort to the canes and the wobbly shuffle which will carry him 20 feet if he's lucky.  We look at the lake.  We watch cormorants fly by in V-formation.  We comment on the lack of people at the park (which I thought was good, and he thought was a shame).  We eat the bananas he grabbed from the café bar at his retirement home, "One for you and one for me".  It isn't the best of days between us, but it ended on a positive note.

Back at home, after the long tedious drive, I always feel so exhausted now.  Maybe it's age.  Maybe it's stress.  Maybe it's just the horrible drive trying to stay out of the way of those drivers who will forever drive at speed trying to be first in line.  I went to my bedroom to lie down, and went to open the window to let in some fresh air.  A sudden flash of orangey red caught my eye in our "stinky bush" just outside my bedroom window.  We don't know what the name of this bush is, but the flowers absolutely stink! and it has forever been the "stinky bush" to my family.  Even the leaves stink in the fall.  But back to the orangey-red flash!  It was a warbler!  My little rest was forgotten, and I grabbed my camera and headed out to the patio instead.  I took over 200 photos (thank goodness for digital, eh!), and most of them looked like this ...

Lots of green stinky bush leaves and branches with just a smidgeon of bird.  See that pretty warbler in there?  The warblers never sat still for more than a second it seemed as they flitted every which way catching tiny bugs, and they're so tiny I could barely get the camera to focus on them. 

Eventually, I got lucky, or else the little warblers took pity on me and sat still and in full view, and I was able to get some very decent shots.  I had my bird book handy, my binoculars and the camera ... oh, and tea! ... to help me identify these birds that I'm not all that familiar with.  My weekend was perfect, as I watched these very active little beauties flit around eating all the bugs that are so prevalent right now.  They're not biting bugs, but there are clouds of them to inhale when you walk into a dark corner or out your front door.  The warblers loved them!!  They had a feast all weekend long.  Where are the nice shots you ask?  Well, say no more, and enjoy ...



American Redstart



Blackburnian Warbler



Blackburnian Warbler ... warbling!



Blackburnian Warbler ... he's hitting a high note here

 

Myrtle Warbler



Myrtle Warbler

Male Chestnut-Sided Warbler ... I like how he's nicely camouflaged here ... and also his grumpy face

 

Chestnut-Sided Warbler ... catching a bug!

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Female Chestnut-Sided Warbler ... I love all the markings on her back

Female Chestnut-Sided Warbler ... love, love, love!!!

 

Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbird taking a rest in the redbud tree

Nashville Warbler who would not come out in the open, and this was the best shot I got of him

 I hope you enjoyed the photos.  The last photo of the female Chestnut-Sided Warbler is my favourite.  This little sweetheart sat in a mock orange bush right beside me and allowed me to go crazy with the camera.  She is so tiny!!  Maybe two inches long in the body ... and you can't beat her for utter cuteness!

 

These miniature beauties graced us with their presence for the entire long weekend.  Now they seem to have all moved on again in their migration to more northern woods.  I also saw a Least Flycatcher too, but his photos didn't turn out.  A great birding adventure for me, and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of my home!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Wendy