Bird walks in the woods these days seem to feature persistent calls from two birds that are tough to see: Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird. And these shots from the last couple of outings don’t include them. However, in spite of heavy foliage there are other birds, often young ones, moving about. Here are a few starting with one of our most common, Song Sparrows. Lots of young ones around.
Common Yellowthroats are also pretty common but hard to photograph — always moving. This one faked me out at first but my friend Rich wrote: “I think we can safely say that this is a male Geothlypis trichas trichas, too, or at least in that grouping on eBird, as it lacks a yellow border to the black mask, has a white-ish belly, and an extensive yellow throat.”
Lastly, one of the most persistent singers are Chestnut-sided Warblers, but again, often buried in the leaves these days.
As I write this, I can hear a Black & White Warbler in the woods just across the busy street. This is “birding by ear” time and that sure beats “frozen fingers on the binoculars” time. Be safe and enjoy the birds of summer.
