Taken at a small swamp area outside Mathews VA, the Greater Yellowlegs was one of my several “lifers” on Friday. The Greater Yellowlegs breed in the northern areas of Canada and migrate down to southern points throughout the North and Mid-atlantic coasts. Sadly according to Audubon, the species has a high vulnerability rate due to climate changes throughout its breeding and migration routes.
What a fantastic day of photography and hanging with friends I had yesterday at Bethel Beach near Matthews VA. Everything came into perfect sync and I was able to not only get this lifer, the Snow Bunting but 4-5 more which I will share over the next several days.
The Snow Buntings breed in the most northern areas of Canada and Greenland and while they do migrate to the US Atlantic states, they rarely make it as far south as Virginia according to the Audubon and All About Bird websites so this was a huge treat to see and photograph.
Thanks to @BarbaraHouston I was able to photograph another “lifer” yesterday, the Wilson’s Snipe while at Dutch Gap. There is no way I would have seen any of them without her help. These cute shorebirds remained in the reeds and swamp grass for most of the time we were there but did come out to enjoy the sun for a short time and I was able to catch them when they appeared in the open.
Evening Grosbeaks are not seen in this part of Virginia generally but due to the bird “irruption” of 2020/21 thousands have come further south in search of food. My friend Michele went with me to Pony Pasture to search them out and wouldn’t you know after almost 3 hours or so of hiking throughout the park searching, as we were headed down the path to our cars we found them. I thought I only had a picture of the female but then when I looked closer on the computer I found I had both male and females. They are really pretty in person and its to bad they don’t spend their winters here more often.
Pony Pasture Park, Richmond VA USA
Olympus OMD-EM1X with 100-400mm + MC-14
Funny story about the Female Purple Finch in the first photo. I thought I had taken a “lifer” shot when we came upon her at Pony Pasture. A fellow bird photographer we met that day & now friend Megan pointed her out to me and explained in detail how to know it was a Purple Finch and not a House Finch. That night while looking through photos I had taken the day before I found a few that matched her female description (second and third) and male description (fourth photo) and so after texting screen shots to her it was confirmed that I had actual gotten my life shot of the Purple Finch the day before, and I know I would not have thought to think it wasn’t a house finch without Megan’s help so thanks Megan!
Purple Finch are another bird not seen in this part of Virginia very often but due to the bird “irruption” of 2020/21 flocks have come further south in search of food. Since the first sighting of the pair in our yard I have seen them and a few more several times with hopes of getting a few more shots.
This is the Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I had wanted to see and photograph them for so long and was finally successful. This super tiny birds are swift jumpers and flyers so I feel lucky any of my shots came in focused.
The ruby crown in his head indicates this is a male.
Olympus OMD-EM1X, Olympus 300mm lens + MC-20
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