The Orange-crowned Warbler breeds in the western U.S. and Canada, and migrates to the southern states and Mexico for the winter.
Considered rare for our region per eBird, an Orange-crowned Warbler was spotted recently at Eastern Neck NWR at the end of Duck Inn Trail.
I didn’t have a lot of time and hit the 1/2 mile one-way trail with my binoculars, long lens, and fingers crossed.
When I got to the end, I searched for 30 minutes in a chilly wind. No sign of the warbler or anything else for that matter. I disappointingly decided to head back to my car. Maybe it was no longer there.
So while walking back, yeah my mind was talking. I was disappointed. But should I have given up just yet? It wasn’t that cold (well, maybe). And what if it is still there. This is a lifer for me, I reminded myself.
I stopped, turned around, and looked back down that path leading through the marsh grasses and trees.
That’s all it took. (And how a birder’s mind thinks! 🤣) Yes, I started walking back to the end to look some more!
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“Well, there you are! You were watching me all along, weren’t you?” 🙂
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Orange-crowned Warbler – My lifer #294 (photographed #273)
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I saw movement and then saw the warbler fly across the path in front of me and land on a branch. It then took off again, flitting back and forth, from tree branch to tree branch. I kept clicking away, hoping for a good shot. What a tease!
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Orange-crowned Warbler
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This little warbler does have an orange crown that it displays when very excited. I guess I didn’t excite it that much, ha! But I know it excited me when I saw it!
