Spring Warblers

I feel very lucky to have seen a number of warblers this spring but, at the same time, I am disappointed with my photo opportunities.  It seems that due to a hot and dry April, the flowering trees blossomed about 10 days early which meant that by the time the warblers arrived, the apple blossoms had already finished blooming and the petals had floated down like confetti.  This gave me no opportunity to get those coveted shots of a colourful bird framed by soft, pink or white flowers.

That said, here are several of the lovely, little birds (with or without flowers)!

Palm Warbler, setophaga palmarum 

Yellow Warbler, setophaga petechia 

Black and White Warbler, mniotilta varia 

Black-throated Blue Warbler, setophaga caerulescens

Northern Parula Warbler,  setophaga americana

American Redstart, setophaga ruticilla 

Magnolia Warbler, setophaga magnolia

Bathing Beauties

Probably due to weather conditions and strong southerly winds, many of the migrating warblers moved into the Montreal area in May and stayed longer than usual.  Large numbers stopped over in the Botanical Gardens to rest, bathe and feed.

Luckily for me, I found a secluded area with a small stream which attracted quite a variety of bathers.  

Here is a selection of some of the residents and visitors (warblers) who frequented the stream and gave me the opportunity to witness their enjoyment of a cool bath!

Cardinal (female)

Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch

American Goldfinch

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Magnolia Warbler (immature or female)

Chestnut-sided Warbler

American Redstart

Baltimore Oriole

Tennessee Warbler