And They Were Singing!

After a good inch of rain and a "splash" of hail the night before, despite the overcast, cool sky, my yard was alive with happy birds!  I spotted this beautiful Yellow-Rumped Myrtle Warbler (Dendroica coronata) singing his heart out!  Warblers are a very tiny bird but their songs are ever so sweet!

I was also very fortunate to be bombarded by a flock of Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks!  Gorgeous birds that don't often show themselves.  They have a tendency to stay high up in the tree canopy but with our trees just leafing out, it makes it a bit easier to spot so many of our songsters!

Of course, it helps to spot so many "BOYS" strutting their stuff when there is a lady around!

A Warbler in October?

These are horrible photos but when I spotted this little bundle of feathers in my bare maple tree I bolted outside without a tripod ... and I really needed a tripod this late in the day combined with the wind!!!  However, I thought I would still share them because, if I'm correct, this would be a female 'Yellow-Rumped Warbler' (Dendroica coronata) ... in particular, the Audubon's Warbler!!!  She looked frozen and I was shocked she was still here!  Most warblers have long headed south by September and I'm certain she is migrating south from a more northerly destination but yesterdays snow and the -10C with windchill today certainly had her taking a break!  I did notice she wasn't far from my bird feeders!  The weatherman has predicted the return of double-digit fall temperatures for this weekend so hopefully she can resume her migration south in much warmer temperatures!  By the way, if it's not a Yellow-rumped Warbler and you do know what it is ... please feel free to correct me!!  :)