The Sweet Spot

The weather was nice last Saturday April 30th so I headed out early to take advantage of the early morning light. First I headed to Mitchell Memorial Forest hoping to catch a few species there but I was very disappointed in the results. A little discourage at not getting any good pictures I put all my gear in the car and headed for Miami Whitewater Forest. On the way I was thinking where should I go and I drove in and slowly listened for bird songs and heard a cerulean and a hooded warbler so I pulled into a parking lot and got out my gear. I set up near the edge of the woods were the sun would be at my back and got setup and then the photos began.
My first opportunity was the Cerulean warbler and I actually saw the female and was able to get a couple snaps of before she disappeared. The mail hung around and I was able to get off quite a few of him. Next I kept seeing a white-breasted nuthatch going in and out of a tree preparing for the nest or feeding a female on the nest. I did not really focus on him until later because a Summer Tanager caught my eye and this species is one I have not had a lot of opportunity to photograph so I focused on getting more pictures this species.
Fortunately for me this bird was photogenic and was begging me to get it picture and I got quite of few. The first pose that got my attention was when it set in a dip of a dead branch and puffed out and pulled its tail up behind his head like a feather. It set there for a while and I captured many different poses but my favorite is this one. Then after a while the nuthatch started hanging around again and I finally started taking pictures of him scurrying around all over. I had got lost in taking pictures of this species and realized I had taken more than I probably should have but I was having a good time.

I can get so involved in getting pictures that I loose all track of time. While I was photographing the tanager a robin had landed on a branch and posed for a few shot before getting back to it days work. Next a hooded warbler stopped by to see what the fuss was and I was able to get a few shots of before it disappeared. Then I had a yellow-throated Vireo come in for a several minutes and then it too went on its merry way.
I then had another visit form the Summer Tanager and spent probably another 30 plus minutes capturing more photographs of this species before packing up and heading home.

I like most people needed to get home and mow my yard before the next batch of rain on Sunday. I felt very lucky to have six species of birds to show up and get good photographs and not have to move form the spot. These kinds of days are great and I enjoy the moment because I know the next time may not be so great.