I was not able to get close to this Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) on Monday at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, but was thrilled to get a shot that was good enough for me to identify the bird. As far as I know, this is the first time that I have photographed a Blue Grosbeak.
When I first spotted this bird, I thought that it was probably an Indigo Bunting. When I got home and looked more closely at the images, however, I noticed the reddish wing bars that are not found on an Indigo Bunting, so I scoured my bird identification book until I came across the Blue Grosbeak.
These two shots illustrate well the dilemma I have in photographing small birds at this time of the year. Many of them like to perch high in the trees and the leaves often hide them from view. When I hear a bird singing, I try to locate it, but am usually unsuccessful in doing so unless the bird moves. In a month or so, many of the leaves will be gone, but so will many of the birds that are now passing through our area.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I share your frustration with trying to photograph the ‘little, flitty ones.’ I know there are species of warblers coming in now, but can I see them? Despite my sore neck, the answer’s usually ‘no.’
Glory! Such a fun find, Mike!
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I have never seen a Blue Grosbeak, so thank you for sharing this one.
I love how the gray sky turns the image into an Audubon-like drawing with the bird and the foliage.
Have never seen one. Thanks for sharing with us!
Blue Grosbeaks are notoriously hard to photo. They must have some type of special skill set for avoiding photographers 😂
Those darned birds are a pain that way! I missed a shot of a bald eagle yesterday for the same reason. When I moved around to try to avoid the trees it got nervous and took off. Ugh!
So often birds (and other subjects) are not cooperative and are really skittish. My usual approach is to take a shot as soon as I can and only then will I move in and try to get a better shot.
That’s usually my approach too, and for just that reason, but in this case the branches were thick enough that there was nothing recognizable to shoot. When I move, I try to move slowly and as quietly as possible, but even that doesn’t always work, as you well know. That’s understandable since being skittish is what keeps them alive.