Prothonotary Warblers
After birding the Chesapeake Forest Lands North Tara Rd on May 9 (my last post), I headed off on my own to two more locations in Dorchester County to continue participating in the Spring Count for eBird.
There’s a nice little swamp that I thought might produce some more species for my count, specifically the Prothonotary Warbler. They love a swampy setting, and although I’ve not checked there in the past nor heard of anyone seeing any there, my hopes were high on my list for the time of the year. There was no pull-off, so I had to park off the road onto a grassy shoulder and walk back.
Woohoo, I was not disappointed and on Cloud 9!
The first photo is the female, she popped out after all the male’s chatter; the rest are of the male with his rusty crown.
Givin’ me the eye!
There’s a possible chance this couple is breeding here. The male immediately popped out of the swamp scene to defend his territory, with a couple times swooping at my head flying across. I did a quick photo session and bid farewell, to leave them to their swampy, quiet home. What a memory, a bird I’ve only seen a couple times!
Bay Photos by Donna 
Still the yellowest things I’ve ever seen – ever in a Costa Rican swamp many years ago! Wonderful birds Donna thanks.
Thank you, John! That yellow truly is super bright, just stunning!
Excellent photos, Donna 🤩. One of my favorite American warblers.
Thank you, Michael! Not having seen them but a couple times, I was thrilled with the encounter!
You’re most welcome. I am sure of that.
You got some fabulous shots of this guy. I love that you even saw him with his crown up. I’ve only seen these guys a few times as well. What a treat!
Thank you, Deborah! I think I agitated him a wee bit, lol, shaking up his crown on me. Yes, a real treat indeed!
Fantastic, Donna. This is one on those times where knowing the habits of birds and taking a chance really paid off for you. Super well done! 👏
Thank you, Pepper! I felt so lucky and thrilled that it worked out to find them. Impressed myself lol! It is a beautiful little swamp but really not appropriate for stopping, road is tight, on a curve. But after years of passing by it, I was on a mission this day for five minutes. I actually made out fine with the situation. And BINGO! 🤩
Your mission paid off, for sure. Well done! 👍🏽
🤗🤗🤗
The “given me the eye” picture is absolutely fantastic, talking about eye contact and the tail spread as an extra reminder that you’ve come too close to his gate.
Thank you, Hans! To be swooped by him too, well I just loved it!
What an adorable bird! The yellow is fantastic, and I also love that crest. Excellent shots, Donna.
Thank you, Egidio! I loved he shagged his crest for me, made him even cuter!
An excellent selection. Nicely donw.
Thank you, Bob!
Ah, that crest and tail feathers all spread out then yellow. Wow what wonderful warbler. Gorgeous treasured moments in photos. Great!
Thank you, Sandy! Us birders go ga-ga over this gorgeous bird, it’s coloring is wow! I’ll never forget this encounter, him shagging his crest and swooping me, I loved it all!
He has a great (hair)stylist. 😀
Punk rocker stylist! 😀
A beautiful bird and photos! What a treat to see 😊
Thank you, Belinda! For the six hours I birded that day, this one put me on Cloud 9! 😊
I can imagine 😊
What glorious plumage, so beautifully captured, Donna.
Thank you, Sheree!
Fabulous captures, Donna! How fortunate you are to have a good place to find these gems.
Thank you, Lisa! I’ve had to drive 2-3 hours to see them before, now an hour away, I was thrilled! I’m going to check on them in a month after migration is over, see if they nested there. Fingers crossed! I don’t know if I could handle seeing prothonotary fledglings….NOT! 😉
Beautiful birds and you have captured them, their colors and their personalities perfectly Donna!
Thank you, Linda! It was a wonderful encounter and I left on Cloud 9!
I have had those days too Donna – my encounter with the fawn whose Mama left him with me while she went for a swim. I know I floated home that day!
Awwwww!!!!
It was my most wonderful nature moment ever. Bambi didn’t bolt, just grazed and looked at me … I think I melted and it wasn’t from the heat!
🥰
I love the tail-fan photo! Well done.
Thank you, Bruce and Mr Prothonotary!😁
Fabulous photos, Donna. The clarity is terrific. I love “Giving me the eye” with his tail splayed and his crown sticking up. So good. Congratulations on a fine series! 💛
Thank you, Jane! I was on Cloud 9 when I left them be, I’ll not forget this memorable encounter!
Giving me the eye… top notch, Donna. aka bird whisper
Thank you, Sue! He swooped me good after that shot, hehe. 😊
Such a cutie. I showed my husband that photo. And told him that it’s the kind of picture that could win contests. He agreed.
Awwww, thank you for such lovely comments! My smile is a mile wide!
What a beautiful bird and how wonderful is its tail structure. I have not had the opportunity till now with your lovely showcase of this bird to appreciate it. You did well with your count Donna. It is always delightful to find a species where it is predicted to be as this one was.
Thank you, Ashley! It’s the tiny that are mighty as this male showed me! About an hour away from me, but I’m hoping to slip down there and the nearby refuge in another 3-4 weeks, I want to check to see if the pair is still there and nesting. My 9yo grandson told me I have to take him! He’s becoming quite the little birder, this summer he’ll be with us every week for 2-3 days while his daddy works a 24hr EMT ambulance shift. I see lots of summer buddy-birding on the horizon!
That’s such a blessing to have at least one birder coming up from the grandies. I hope you get to see this beautiful bird breeding.
We’re making a plan 😊
What a lovely set of portraits.
Thank you, Tom!
The behaviour you described is definitely mobbing. You are right; they are probably nesting. The male was trying to drive you away.
Great photos. That male looking directly at you point blank is another indication that it is trying to threaten you.
Thank you! Yes, I knew what was going on, that was why I departed quickly to give them back their space. I have bird nests all around my home property and many times I stumble on another nest yet again because the bird pair lets me know it!
What a great set of shots! Beautiful!
Thank you!