Having missed the prothonotary warbler Sunday, I took a quick trip to the Dyson Tract this morning hoping to spot it. Again, however, a yellow warbler stole the show.
As I stood facing the swamp from the canal towpath, a yellow warbler flew down into some leaves clustered around the bottom of a telephone pole. I trained my camera there, hoping the bird would pop up.
A few moments later, the bird reappeared, poking itself up from the leaves. My favorite image, with the bird cocking its head, tops this post.
The bird then flew up into a tree on the edge of the swamp, perching in the sun and allowing me time to get a few more shots. It’s truly a beautiful specimen.
Eventually, the bird flew off, and I had the good fortune to catch that takeoff.
I looked at my watch and decided to stay a few more minutes, in hopes of catching the prothonotary warbler singing continuously from the swamp.
After a few minutes of scanning the bare trees studding the swamp, I spotted a blob of bright yellow near the top of one of the trees in the distance. A quick look through my binoculars confirmed I was seeing the prothonotary, although it was partially obscured. I pointed my camera and hoped for the best.
Although not a clear shot, I was happy to get this, the best of the images I was able to take. It doesn’t do the bird full justice. I might go back tomorrow and aim for something better. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 