Grace's Warbler, Summerhaven, August 25, 2024. In Part I of this series, I looked at two warblers who winter in Mexico, and nest on Mt Lemmon, the Painted Redstart and the Red-faced Warbler. As of early September they are still around, but will be heading south soon as the days get shorter and the food (insects) move south. As our summer residents leave, we are greeted by warblers who breed to the north but may stop over in the village for food and water on their way south for the winter. Let's start with three species who summer in the same northern regions and often migrate together, the Black-throated Gray Warbler, the Hermit Warbler, and the Townsend's Warbler. Black-throated Gray WarblerCanon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, f/7.1, 1/500 sec., ISO 2000, +1 EV.
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 3200, +0.67 EV. Black-throated Gray Warblers eat insects from the understory, moving with deliberate hops from branch to branch. They are good subjects for photography, being less frenetic than the Painted Redstart or Red-faced Warbler. Above, and in the images that follow, a Black-throated Gray finds an insect under the leaf at eye level and plucks it off. Hermit WarblerCanon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 451mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 5000, +0.33 EV.
Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm with 1.4x Ext. at 700mm, 1/1000 sec., f/10, ISO 16000, +1 EV. Although the Hermit Warbler likes the canopy of the highest trees in summer in the Pacific Northwest and in the winter in Mexico*, on migration they join other warblers in mixed flocks, feeding in riparian oak woodlands like Summerhaven. *Cornell's All About Birds attributes the bird's name, Hermit, to their preference for the high canopy summer and winter, although they are gregarious and in full evidence to us on migration. Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 6400, +0.67 EV. As this series of photographs shows how the Hermit Warbler hops from branch to branch in search of insects. Townsend's WarblerCanon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/1250 sec., f/7.1, ISO 10000, +0.67 EV.
They will winter in a variety of habitats similar to their migration hang-outs, from coastal California to Central America. The riparian environment of Summerhaven is an ideal spot to stop for food on the way south. Like most warblers, Townsend's feed on insects and insect larvae, gleaned from conifer needles. They will occasionally hawk, catching flying insects in midair. On migration they will feed on nectar from flowers. At backyard feeders they will take mealworms, peanut butter and suet. The image above was captured on August 25, 2024, in Summerhaven near Sabino Creek. The image below was captured a year ago, October 29, 2023, toward the end of the fall in Summerhaven. Canon 7D Mk II with EF 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/400 sec., f/5.6, ISO 2500, +1 EV. Above and below, a Townsend's Warbler searching for food in the understory, September 20, 2020. Below, catching a ray of sunshine during breakfast, October 2, 2020. Canon 7D Mk II with RF 100-400mm at 400mm, 1/500 sec., f/5.6, ISO 2000, +0 EV. Grace's WarblerCanon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.67 EV.
Grace's Warblers have gray backs, a white breast with a yellow throat and eyebrow. Males and females are similar, with the female being less boldly patterned. The population of Grace's Warbler is falling most likely due to loss of their habitat - mature forests. For more on the challanges habitat specialists face, see Northwest Ohio, Spring Migration 2022, Part 1, Warblers. Nashville WarblerCanon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.67 EV.
Occasionally one can spot a chesnut crown, not visible in these images. The female is paler than the male. They eat insects including spruce budworm on their northern territory as well as other arthropods in all seasons. They nest on or near the ground hidden among bushes or the base of trees. Mountain ChickadeeAbove, a Mountain Chickadee at a feeder in Summerhaven, September 3, 2023. Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 500mm, 1/2000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 2000, +0.33 EV.
They do come to feeders year round, with a preference for sunflower seeds, and during the winter, suet and peanut butter. Canon R6 with RF 100-500mm at 428mm, 1/2000 sec., f/6.3, ISO 4000, +0 EV. Mountain Chickadees are small birds with a definite "cute factor." Their head is large in relation to the body, with a small bill, a narrow tail and round belly. They are gray overall with white cheeks, a black cap and throat, offset by a white eyebrow. Canon R5 Mk II with RF 100-500mm at 400mm, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 1600, +0.33 EV. Above and below, a Mountain Chickadee grabbing an insect from under a leaf near Sabino Creek in Summerhaven, August 25, 2024. As of Saturday September 14th there continues to be a lot of birds, including the Nashville Warbler, along Sabino Creek across from the Cookie Cabin. That's all for now. More coming soon. Happy trails!
2 Comments
Linda Currin
9/17/2024 04:48:17 pm
Thanks as always, Henry! Am reading and looking at your glorious photos while visiting family in Billings MT!
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Henry
9/17/2024 09:07:10 pm
Linda: I am glad you are enjoying the post! Let me know what you hear. Merlin Bird ID app for smartphones is also very helpful for IDing birds by song, I depend on it a lot.
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AuthorHenry Johnson, photographer and author of this site. For more detail, see About Categories
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