All Albums

Yellow Rump Rocket (Yellow-Rump Warbler)
Another candidate for my "Bullet Birds" album. Taken today at Morningstar Ponds in Parksville.

First of The Season Bug Shot (Yellow-Rump Warbler)
Got the first warbler bug shot of the spring season today at Buttertubs. A bit more spring birds today but still somewhat inconsistent as regards activity. Hoping it will get better in a week or two.

Female Townsend's Warbler
Another image from the Enos Lake trail.

Male Townsend's Warbler
Another one from the Enos Lake trail.

Wilson's Warbler Environmental
Lots of different species of warblers hanging around Brookwood Marsh yesterday. I managed to get a few images of this elusive little Wilson's warbler while I was there.

First Yellow-Rump Warbler (Audubon's Yellow-Rump Warbler)
The first of what will probably be many warbler shots for me this spring. Great to see the season is under way again this year.

MacGillivrays Warbler in Flight
Another flight shot not yet posted from a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy!

Little Mountain Townsend's Warbler
Went up little mountain looking for tanagers and ended up with Townsend's warblers. Who knew?

Taking a Rest (Macgillivray's Warbler)
Sometimes after all that jetting around it's nice to have a rest and just take in the scenery.

MacGillivray's Missile
Fast little dudes!

MacGillivray's Warbler in Flight
Take it from me, these little guys are quick!

Morrell Lake MacGillivray's Warbler
Went for a bit of a hike along the power lines at Morrell Lake today. Great light and lots of different birds to see there. Ran into several warblers like this guy along the way.

Banking To Land (Myrtle Warbler)
A Myrtle warbler does a quick bank before landing close to me at Oliver Woods Marsh today. Bird Watching Magazine - First place: 2022 Birds in Flight Contest! www.birdwatchingdaily.com/photography/featured-galleries/...

Brookwood Marsh Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Found this nice Audubon's yellow-rump warbler bouncing around in the new rose shoots at Brookwood Marsh the other day.

The other Type of Yellow Rump (Myrtle Warbler)
Don't think I ever posted this. Taken back in 2020 at Morningstar Ponds in Parksville.

First of The Season (Townsend's Warbler)
They have been around for a couple of weeks apparently but this is the first one that I have had the chance to photograph.

First of The Season (Black-Throated Grey Warbler)
OK, This one looks more normal. Having a bit of trouble getting the correct colors for you. Tried to upload a nice shot of a Townsend's Warbler but got a pretty yucky result. Will try re-processing to see if it makes a difference. Stand by!

Showing His True Colors (Yellow-Rumped Warbler)
Every year I try to get at least one image of all four yellow areas on a yellow rump warbler. In this photo you can see a tace of yellow on the head, yellow on the throat, yellow on the side of the breast, and the yellow rump. It would have been a bit better with a different head position but this is pretty close. Please click twice for more detail.

Surprise Flight Shot (Yellow-Rumped Warbler)
Got a surprise when I went through my files after getting home today. I thought that I would just try some flight shots with the yellow rumps but managed to catch one eating a bug in mid air. Who knew?

First of The Season Yellow Rump Warbler
Nice to see the first of the season yellow-rumped warblers starting to show up at Buttertubs marsh today.

Yellow Overload (Yellow Warbler)
Got some shots of yellow warblers today. Couldn't help thinking that people were going to accuse me of over-saturating this as the yellow was so strong. Just some levels adjust and some minor noise removal and sharpening on this one. Kind of makes a goldfinch look dull.

Notch Hill Townsend's Warbler
Had another encounter with my favorite warblers up on Notch Hill in Nanoose Bay today. This male has managed to catch an inch worm and some sort of moth. Probably on a foraging run to feed the chicks. Folks on Flickr please left click for extra detail.

Taken From a Different Angle (Townsend's Warbler)
Really liked the background and overall colors on this one.

Went Looking For Tanagers (Townsend's Warbler)
Went up Little Mountain looking for tanagers. Only got a glimpse of one female moving through the area. Lots of Townsend's warblers still there though.

Little Mountain Townsend's Warbler
Pretty good light up the mountain today. Had to pick up some coffee in Errington so I decided to stop by and try for some warblers.

Singing His Heart Out ( Townsend's Warbler)
Found the odd cooperative Townsend's warbler on the Enos Lake trail today.

Audubon's Yellow Rump
Lots of these guys around Buttertubs Marsh right now. Soon their counterpart, the Myrtle warbler will arrive. The Myrtle warbler is similar but the yellow on the face is replaced with white. Both branches of the family are considered yellow-rump warblers.

Another One From The Vault (Common Yellow Throat)
This one taken a while back at Cottle Lake but never posted.

Mossy Perch (Black-Throated Grey Warbler)
A bit of a crop on this one but better background and I really like the mossy perch.

Linley Valley Black Thoated Grey Warbler
Usuially there are more of these guys than the Townsend's warbler but it would seem quite the opposite this year. Finally managed to get a couple of photos of one today.

Myrtle Warbler
The other branch of the yellow rump warbler family. My Mother's favorite as her middle name was Myrtle and she always liked the colors of the bird and its song. Along with the Audubon's yellow rump they would make fleeting visits in the spring each year. Together with swallows returning to our nest boxes it was always one of the high points of the season.

Enos Lake Townsend's Warbler
Did my yearly expedition to the Enos Lake trail in Nanoose Bay today. Ran into yet another Townsend's warbler singing up a storm in the arbutus trees.

First Of The Season (Townsend's Warbler)
Went to Linley Valley today to see if any of the new migrants had arrived. Found this lovely Townsend's warbler singing on one of the bluffs. Guess they have been reported as being around for the last couple of weeks but this is the first encounter that I have had.

First of the Season (Audubon's Yellow Rump Warbler)
I had predicted this little fellow for March the first but he did not show until today. Sorry, was off a bit. Always the first yellow rump to show up at Buttertubs Marsh every year for the past five years or so.

Buttertubs Yellow Warbler
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Minimalistic (Townsend's Warbler)
Taking advantage of getting as many good shots of these guys as I can. They seem to be everywhere this year but it is not always the case. Usually I find more black-throated grey warblers.

On Guard (Black-Throated Grey Warbler)
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Cottle Lake Yellow Throat (Common Yellow Throat)
Lots of common yellow throats showing up at Cottle Lake in Linley Valley now.

Going Down Hill (Townsend's Warbler)
OK, just this one last image of a Townsend's warbler. Got quite a few more but I don't want to bore you too much. Never have seen them as cooperative about photography as they are this year. Pretty cool!

Different Perspective (Townsend's Warbler)
This one taken from a different point of view. Not a whole lot done to this. Slight sharpening and noise removal.

Townsend's Warbler
Lots of Townsend's warblers in the woods right now. Got an image of this handsome dude on the entrance to the path leading to Enos Lake.

Common Yellow Throat
Found this one in the archives. Can't imagine why I never posted it back then. These guys starting to show up all over Nanaimo right now. Best viewed at largest size.

Black-Throated Grey Warbler
Did my best with this image as regards lighting. Pretty harsh today as I ended up coming out a bit later than usual after doing a few chores. Caught this handsome guy in Linley Valley right here in Nanaimo B.C. Shot hand held with the 100-400mm.

Little Jewels (Audubon Yellow-Rump Warbler)
Lots of these guys bobbing around Buttertubs Marsh right now. One of the first splashes of color we see in the spring time.

First Spring Yellow Rump (Audubons Yellow Rump Warbler)
Thought you might like a break from all of these hawk owl photos. Here's my first yellow-rumped warbler. Taken two weeks ago on March 1st at Buttertubs Marsh.

Rare Visitor (Palm Warbler)
Sorry about this one. Another large crop of a rare bird. Seen in the hedgerow out near the crab apple tree at Nanaimo River Estuary.

Little Yellow Bomb (Wilson's Warbler)
Lots of these little guys jetting around Linley Valley right now.

Yellow Warbler in Pussy Willow
Got some images of yellow warblers today at Buttertubs Marsh.

Better Light (Townsend's Warbler)
Guess I should have waited to post until after I had reviewed all of today's images. Here is one in more even light taken in the shadows.

First Black-Throated Grey Warbler
This black-throated grey warbler was feeding close to the Townsend's warbler so I got two birds for the price of one this time.

First Townsend's Warbler
Light was a bit harsh but just couldn't resist getting a few images of the warblers on the Enos Lake Trail in Nanoose today.

Better Background (Yellow-Rump Warbler)
This is more the type of background I strive for. Here is an image of the female yellow-rump warbler. Her colors are a bit more subdued than the male but still pretty.

Half And Half (Yellow Rump Warbler)
Tried to get the tree to fill the whole background on this one but as soon as I moved he flushed and I was stuck with several very clear shots of the bird on a half and half background.

First of the season (Yellow-Rumped Warbler)
Been wondering when these guys would show up. Got this yellow-rump warbler along with the first influx of swallows at Buttertubs Marsh today.

Dawson Road (Townsend's Warbler)
Went to Dawson Road near Nanoose Bay today to see if there was a lazuli bunting this year. No buntings but lots of Townsend's warblers around.

Full Body Profile
Ran into Dave Pley at Cottle Lake yesterday and we both couldn't resist getting a couple more shots of the resident MacGillivray's Warbler. So cooperative this year and such a lovely subject. This image captured at close to minimum focusing distance with the 600mm and 1.4X teleconverter.

Another Close Up (MacGillivray's Warbler)
Here is another close up from yesterday's shoot.

Cottle Lake MacGillivray's Warbler
Found this MacGillivray's Warbler at the top of the hill before walking down to Cottle Lake today. Much more cooperative than last year and not particularly skittish at all this time.

Cottle Lake Black-Throated Grey Warbler
Quite a few of these guys in the bush around Cottle Lake right now. Had to bring the shutter speed way down as he was in the shade. Didn't turn out too bad though.

Backlit but still nice? (Townsend's Warbler)
Almost didn't post this image because of the backlight. Kind of goes against photography rules having the light in the wrong direction. You be the judge.

Singing To The Sun (Townsend's Warbler)
Lots of lovely Townsend's Warblers up on Little Mountain this afternoon.

Next Year's Easter Card? (Yellow Rumped Warbler)
Sorry about that. A bit late for an Easter card but maybe I can use it next year. This shot taken a few days ago on the Plumber Road side of the Englishman River Estuary.

Little Mountain Yellow Rump
Went to Little Mountain today. Lots of Yellow Rumped Warblers up there. This guy looks like he is walking on the bottom of the ocean. The moss and the lichens remind me of sea plants and coral the way they are growing this time of year.

First Spring Yellow Rump 2017
There is a few of these guys starting to show up at Buttertubs Marsh now. Time to start the spring watch for Mountain Bluebirds.

Expose For The Shadows
The light was quite harsh when I took this image. I used an old technique of mine. It's probably no secret to anyone out there but to get even light on a day like that you need to catch your subject in the shadows. Then you must adjust your exposure for that light. Although this image was captured at only 1/400sec in the shadows, the light is much more even than in the bright sunlight just outside of the tree that the bird is on. Generally, in the shadow there is no shadow. Taken hand held at 840mm. Please left click to see full detail.

Dawson Road Townsend's Warbler
Hope you don't mind all of these Townsend's warbler images. Good to take advantage while they are plentiful as you never know what it may be like in the future. Also, they are quite a bit more cooperative this year than in the past. Hand held at 840mm.

Another Townsend's Warbler
Don't know why but there seems to be a lot more of these guys this year.

Meanwhile Back On Little Mountain....
Another long distance Townsend's warbler image with 1200mm. Taken on tripod.

Liquid Lunch
An orange crowned warbler plucks spit bugs from a Himalayan blackberry bush in Linley Valley.

More Environment
This one shows a bit more environment. Seems somewhat sharper as well. (Both Townsend's warbler images taken at 1200mm with the 2X teleconverter).

Townsend's Warbler (Little Mountain)
Taken today on Little Mountain near Parksville B.C. (Both Townsend's warbler images taken at 1200mm with the 2X teleconverter).

Balancing Act (Common Yellow Throat)
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Lake Side Sing Along
Spent part of the morning with the common yellow throats down at Cottle Lake today.

Black-Throated Grey Warbler
Found this pretty little singer today on the way to Enos Lake near Nanoose Bay B.C.

First of the Season
Got this image today at Buttertubs Marsh. My first Audubon's Yellow Rump Warbler this year. This image taken with the 100-400mm version 2, hand held.

Cottle Lake Townsend's Warbler
While foraging in an apple tree, a Townsend's Warbler hangs up side down in order to pluck a spider from a leaf.

Cottle Lake Common Yellow Throat
A Common Yellow Throat sings to mark its territory at Cottle Lake in Nanaimo's Linley Valley.

Morrell Lake McGillivray's Warbler
Saw a bunch of these guys up at the lake in Morrell Bird Sanctuary yesterday but I was not too pleased with the resulting images. Went back today with the big gun (840mm equivalent) and had better results. Background is natural out of focus fir trees. Some twigs removed for neatness :-).

Prickly Perch (Yellow Warbler)
Kind of like the texture in this image.

Buttertubs Yellow Warbler
Lots of these little yellow guys singing around Buttertubs right now.

Townsend's Warbler #2
Here is another image of the Townsend's Warbler from Morrell. Darned branches always seem to get in the way.

Morrell Townsend's Warbler
Took me a while but I managed to bring this guy out of the underbrush at Morrell Bird Sanctuary today. Not every one will respond to the bird calls. This guy was at least the tenth try.

Brookwood Myrtle Warbler
Funny how things can change in just a couple of days. Went to Brookwood Marsh here in Nanaimo just three days ago and there was one lonely Audubon's yellow rump. Yesterday there was at least 20 myrtle warblers keeping him company.

Caught in Full Song
A black-throated grey warbler belts out a tune at Cottle Lake in Linley Valley

Black-Throated Grey Warbler
Ran into this handsome fellow down at Cottle Lake in Linley Valley today.

Another Type of Yellow Rump
Got this handsome myrtle warbler down by the floating bridge at Swan Lake in Victoria. They are the other branch of the family in yellow rump warblers and don't usually arrive until about a month or so after the audubon type.

The Stare
There was better light yesterday at Brookwood Marsh so I took the lens out for another go. Getting to be more yellow rumps and lots of duck activity now as well.

Brookwood Yellow Rump (Audubon's)
Always nice to see these guys show up in the spring time. The Myrtle variety should be showing up in a couple of weeks along with the mountain bluebirds.

Yellow Warbler in Crab Apple Tree
Still plenty of these guys hanging around at the Cowichan Estuary today.

Cottle Lake Common Yellow Throat 2014
Here is this year's close up of a common yellow throat taken at Cottle Lake this afternoon. I decided to do a bit of experimentation with using my flash extender. Didn't seem to work too bad.

Common Yellow Throat
Just realized that I hadn't uploaded this image to flickr yet. This was taken last year. These guys should be arriving any time now at Cottle Lake. One of the first photos taken with the new 600mm.

Butter Ball
Nice to see that at least some of the spring birds are being well fed. 🙂

Estuary Yellow Rump
Caught this image between the rain drops a the Nanaimo River Estuary. Still no sign of the mountain bluebirds yet. (Full frame - resampled for the web).

Little Jewel
Not many people outside of the birding community seem to take notice of these guys but they are among some of the most colorfull of all small birds in the spring.

First Spring Yellow Rump
I went to Buttertubs Marsh in Nanaimo today looking for yellow rump warblers and found this guy. He looks a little worse for wear after his long northern migration.

Duncan Yellow Warbler
Saw this yellow warbler in evening light a couple of weeks ago at the Cowichan River Estuary.

Cottle Lake McGillivray's Warbler
Here is a McGillivray's warbler from Cottle Lake near Nanaimo. Always wanted a picture of one of these guys.

Cottle Lake Yellow Throat
Caught this image at Cottle Lake near Nanaimo. The background is natural and not re-touched. Unusual to get such a clean shot. One of the first photos taken with my new 600mm IS 2.