We are indeed so loved by the world if its possible to awake to predawn calm, bask in that stillness with some coffee, then spend a morning surrounded by warblers.
I can relate to the obscenely early morning coffees as a pre-birding ritual, haha. Congratulations on the photos of the Blackburnian Warbler. They're quite a stunning little bird. I don't think I've ever gotten more than a passing glimpse of one. Also, I will never be bored with seeing the Scarlet Tanager. Those photos of yours make the red colour surreal against the blue sky in the background. Awesome sighting. Thanks for sharing, James.
Thank you Neil! Until this year my run-ins with Blackburnians were few and far between. Maybe because I was more intentional in looking for them on the day I got my photos I encountered more than one—and to be perfectly honest I was piggybacking on groups of great birders.
The red of the tanager against the background, as you point out, might make that my photographic highlight for the month.
Result!! Congratulations on getting your shot of the Blackburnian Warbler.
I love this whole vivid gallery. Stunning photos, James.
I've never heard of the Blackburnian...but fun fact; I live just 36 minutes from Blackburn. I don't think they have any of their namesake warblers there though...
Congratulations, James! Great photos. I hope to have one decent photo of an Atlantic Puffin to share soon. I'm afraid to look through the camera. And I finally saw a Common Eider. They were in calm waters, but it was just as exciting.
What a grouping! The osprey with the fish eye seemingly begging to be saved is striking! And the other two that drew me in are the chestnut sided warbler and wow to the black throated blue! Such dark subtleties must be difficult to capture.
The winner of the surprises in this batch goes to the Goldilocks moment, common yellowthroat for the win❣️
I also really like the picture of yourself you chose for your buy me a coffee button. It’s super.
Law school is coming fast, I move in to my apartment by school June 1, classes start at the end of August. Until then I’m reading on my own and doing a preparatory course, but squeezing in birding and relaxation as I can!
Ever SO exciting! I think you do well in law school. I sense this by the amount of detail3d knowledge you are able to hold at any given time about the birds you are studying. It’s fascinating because my brain doesn’t flow like that.
Thank you Teyani! It’ll definitely be a challenge but I’ve entertained the idea since I was young and think it’s the right move—a good thing that would not be happening if it wasn’t for bad years, I use it as a reason to frame my brain injury as positive.
Thank you Jesse. That was one of the best bird photography experiences I’ve ever had. The pictures are great but still don’t do it justice—and I appreciate you recognizing that fish is a scup.
Perfect article to start the day with my coffee, James! I really enjoyed the photographic adventure and the variety of birds amidst the Blackburnian search. The yellow and red against the blue sky is stunning, too.
Thank you, Nate! “Skill and patience”—sometimes I think it’s more the latter than the former. A lot of bird photography is waiting for the bird you want to be in the light you want and facing the way you want. Waiting, patience. That’s not to say there isn’t skill involved, but once you know how to get your camera to do what you want it’s more about waiting for the subject you want to do what you want when you want and how you want.
Birding is cool if done with passion and willingness to bring others along. It played a central role in my own resilience these last few years. As daily fitness challenges show, having a goal keeps us accountable.
If somebody isn’t able to do a physical challenge, for whatever reason, the self-imposed challenge of “I’m gonna set my alarm, be up, and see X species” is an accessible, low barrier-to-entry goal. It’s also doable physical exercise. You might be birding, but you’re also walking, moving.
There was a time, a few years ago, walking a mile was a lot for me. But I still birded, taking lots of breaks. Eventually, walking sometimes 10 miles to bird was no issue. If you can walk, try a burpee. You won’t get birds out of it, but you’ll get something else.
What a great selection of birds! I can’t wait for the warblers to come back to us in the fall. It has been a lot quieter in the woods here ever since they left.
What an abundance of beauty! One can’t help feeling that we are so loved by this World. And then we get to have coffee, too? Now we can be certain. 💛🤎
We are indeed so loved by the world if its possible to awake to predawn calm, bask in that stillness with some coffee, then spend a morning surrounded by warblers.
a dream. I know you never take it for granted, nor do I.
I can relate to the obscenely early morning coffees as a pre-birding ritual, haha. Congratulations on the photos of the Blackburnian Warbler. They're quite a stunning little bird. I don't think I've ever gotten more than a passing glimpse of one. Also, I will never be bored with seeing the Scarlet Tanager. Those photos of yours make the red colour surreal against the blue sky in the background. Awesome sighting. Thanks for sharing, James.
Thank you Neil! Until this year my run-ins with Blackburnians were few and far between. Maybe because I was more intentional in looking for them on the day I got my photos I encountered more than one—and to be perfectly honest I was piggybacking on groups of great birders.
The red of the tanager against the background, as you point out, might make that my photographic highlight for the month.
Result!! Congratulations on getting your shot of the Blackburnian Warbler.
I love this whole vivid gallery. Stunning photos, James.
I've never heard of the Blackburnian...but fun fact; I live just 36 minutes from Blackburn. I don't think they have any of their namesake warblers there though...
Thank you Janelle — perhaps Blackburn has some other worthwhile warblers to check out!
Congratulations, James! Great photos. I hope to have one decent photo of an Atlantic Puffin to share soon. I'm afraid to look through the camera. And I finally saw a Common Eider. They were in calm waters, but it was just as exciting.
Thank you! I’ve never seen a puffin and look forward to your photos. Eider are always special, congratulations on seeing one.
What a grouping! The osprey with the fish eye seemingly begging to be saved is striking! And the other two that drew me in are the chestnut sided warbler and wow to the black throated blue! Such dark subtleties must be difficult to capture.
The winner of the surprises in this batch goes to the Goldilocks moment, common yellowthroat for the win❣️
I also really like the picture of yourself you chose for your buy me a coffee button. It’s super.
Say, how’s the potential law school idea growing?
Thank you, Teyani!
Law school is coming fast, I move in to my apartment by school June 1, classes start at the end of August. Until then I’m reading on my own and doing a preparatory course, but squeezing in birding and relaxation as I can!
Ever SO exciting! I think you do well in law school. I sense this by the amount of detail3d knowledge you are able to hold at any given time about the birds you are studying. It’s fascinating because my brain doesn’t flow like that.
Thank you Teyani! It’ll definitely be a challenge but I’ve entertained the idea since I was young and think it’s the right move—a good thing that would not be happening if it wasn’t for bad years, I use it as a reason to frame my brain injury as positive.
I love that you’ve found a way to make use of the terrible injury. This is awesome responding at its best.
Spectacular, as usual, James. My favorite may be the osprey with the scup 🙂
Thank you Jesse. That was one of the best bird photography experiences I’ve ever had. The pictures are great but still don’t do it justice—and I appreciate you recognizing that fish is a scup.
Perfect article to start the day with my coffee, James! I really enjoyed the photographic adventure and the variety of birds amidst the Blackburnian search. The yellow and red against the blue sky is stunning, too.
Thank you so much, Heidi! Glad you enjoyed all the photos, and hope you've been enjoying migration.
Mission accomplished, and then some! Attempting to photograph a Blackburnian is borderline madness. Congrats on reaching your goal!
Also, what a magnificent gallery of birds, but especially the warblers!! Just an incredible display of skill and patience to capture all this beauty.
Thank you, Nate! “Skill and patience”—sometimes I think it’s more the latter than the former. A lot of bird photography is waiting for the bird you want to be in the light you want and facing the way you want. Waiting, patience. That’s not to say there isn’t skill involved, but once you know how to get your camera to do what you want it’s more about waiting for the subject you want to do what you want when you want and how you want.
I’d count patience as a skill tbh 😀
All of them are beautiful! Great pics and knowledge, James. I really appreciate your posts.
Thank you, Tara! I’m glad you enjoy what I share. Thank you so much for reading.
Incredible.
You’re single-handedly making birding cool… haha
You really are an example that any activity when done with passion and resilience, can produce incredible results.
Thank you brother.
That’s a huge compliment, Kyle! Thank you.
Birding is cool if done with passion and willingness to bring others along. It played a central role in my own resilience these last few years. As daily fitness challenges show, having a goal keeps us accountable.
If somebody isn’t able to do a physical challenge, for whatever reason, the self-imposed challenge of “I’m gonna set my alarm, be up, and see X species” is an accessible, low barrier-to-entry goal. It’s also doable physical exercise. You might be birding, but you’re also walking, moving.
There was a time, a few years ago, walking a mile was a lot for me. But I still birded, taking lots of breaks. Eventually, walking sometimes 10 miles to bird was no issue. If you can walk, try a burpee. You won’t get birds out of it, but you’ll get something else.
Beautiful. The fact that you add fitness into your passion makes it that much cooler.
There is nothing sweeter than the song of warblers as the eastern Sun rises.
Absolutely, Mark.
So many lovely photos of beautiful birds! Your photo of the Scarlet Tanager is particularly excellent
Thank you Juliet! That tanager was impossible to miss against that blue sky.
It is absolutely incredible to me that you can see - and photograph! - so many types of birds in one single day. What a gift!
Thank you, Sharron! It is a gift when the birds are so abundant and willing to be seen.
What a great selection of birds! I can’t wait for the warblers to come back to us in the fall. It has been a lot quieter in the woods here ever since they left.