It’s hard to pick a favorite song or call of the birds I encounter in my part of the world, but unquestionably the sweet, clear song of the Baltimore oriole is among my favorites.
I heard one for the first time this spring at the Pole Farm on Tuesday and heard another this morning at the Dyson Tract along the Delaware and Raritan Canal. The bird’s voice was so loud and clear that I knew it was close by, likely in a treetop.
Sure enough, I spotted Mr. Oriole after a few minutes, high up in a tree. I backtracked to get shots with the sun shining on him. One tops this post, and I also offer this vertically cropped version that better shows the bird’s eye and catchlight.
I’ve noted previously that the Dyson Tract, on the Princeton-West WIndsor border, is one of the most densely packed birding spots I know. This morning was further proof.
After I shot the oriole, I spied a red-bellied woodpecker nearby. With favorable sunlight, I got some decent frames.
A few moments later, I looked toward the canal and spotted a blob in one of the trees on the edge of the trail. The white head was unmistakable: bald eagle.
It was tough to line up the shot through the many branches between the bird and me, but I found a hole through which to shoot just as the bird began to spread its wings.
The bird flew off, and I got two almost clear shots. Here’s the better of them.
The Dyson Tract is a haven for warbling vireos for many months starting in late Spring, and I heard several this morning. Typically, I had trouble spotting one. I also heard and caught a glimpse of a great-crested flycatcher, my first of the year.
I’ll be going back to the tract to see what else I can capture on camera. 🦅
The Jersey Birder 