It is warbler season now where I live. This can be a frustrating time of the year for me, because the arrival of these colorful migrating birds coincides with the re-leafing of the trees. I can hear the warblers and occasionally get a glimpse of their bright colors through the leaves, but it is rare for me to get a clear shot of one.
Yesterday, I was thrilled to capture this image of a Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge. I started to track this bird as it was moving about in the foliage and was fortunate to be ready when it paused for a split second in the open. I did not plan this particular composition, but it worked out really nicely with the shapes of the branches on the right side of the image and the mostly out of focus leaves on the left.
This image speaks of spring to me. Happy Spring to those in the Northern Hemisphere and hopefully those experiencing autumn in the Southern Hemisphere will also enjoy the bright springtime colors.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
The composition looks like a planned work of art! Good job!
Thanks, Molly. Sometimes things fall into place when I am shooting. With small birds, the real emphasis is always on capturing a clear shot of the bird. Often I try to get an uncluttered background, but it is even better when I can show the environment like this without distracting viewers from the subject.
Great shot and lovely composition. Right place, right time……..and good shooting skills.
Thanks. It often takes a bit of luck and good timing (and lots of shots) to get an image like this. I have plenty of other shots in which the warbler is partially obscured by the foliage or has its head turned away from me. 🙂
What a magnificent photograph of this little beauty! This would make a lovely framed picture. We woke up to a covering of Snow this morning and it is a snow/rain mixture falling at present. It looks strangely out of place with the blooming daffodils. I can’t help but think how nicely you would capture this opportunity in a photograph! Thank-you, Mr. Mike!
Oh bother, I needed to proofread prior to posting this comment! Make a lovely framed picture!
I knew exactly what you meant and edited your original comment for you. 🙂
Thank-YOU!
Thanks. The photo reminds me that indeed it is now spring. We had a bit of frost yesterday morning and it was 38 degrees when I went out with my camera, but no snow for us. It seems like we are having March weather in April.
Beautiful capture! Hurray for warblers!
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Nice Mike! Nice clear shot! I like the leaves framing the Warbler. They are fun to photograph!
Thanks, Reed. I agree that warblers are fun to photograph, but also frustrating. Yellow-rumped Warblers are probably our most common warblers and tend to be around much longer than other warblers.
Beautiful. A shot to be very proud of. Composition, forms, colors…
A delightful spring portrait! Did it sing for you as it paused for your moment?
Thanks, Gary. Alas, no warbling from the warbler this time.
A photo to be proud of Mike, well done you! Lovely to see spring photos in our autumn.
Thanks, Liz. I will try to do my part by including as many bright and cheery spring colors in my posts as I can.
Wonderful 🙂 I look forward with anticipation to each and every one!
Incredible photo, my friend. These twitchy little beauties are so very difficult to capture perched. Your speed and agility and skill are most appreciated.
Thanks, Jet. “Twitchy” is the perfect adjective to describe these beautiful little birds. This one was moving all about almost erratically, including hanging upside down at times, but mostly stayed at least partially hidden in the foliage. I was happy that I was using a monopod, because my arm would have tired quickly as I tried to track the warbler.
Nice take, Mike. This means they are halfway here, yay!