An early morning walk along a dirt road in Sunapee produced some interesting behaviors from the local birds. I photographed various species flying and landing, singing, and perching. But the stars this morning were Cedar Waxwings.
As we exited our car many Bobolinks were singing. I managed to get one landing in the tall grass.
There was a Killdeer at the edge of the road trying to lure us away, presumably from a nest we never saw.
Nearby a Yellow Warbler sang, but I liked the photos of it posing better.
We heard many Veeries. I managed to photograph two different Veeries singing.
Two other warbler species that I was able to photograph were singing. Numerous ovenbirds …
… and many Chestnut-sided Warblers.
We watched a Cedar Waxwing gathering tent caterpillar webs, presumably for a nest.
Good thing it was nest building because soon we witnessed some pre-nuptial feeding. I’m disappointed they hid a bit behind branches, but glad I captured this very quick event.
A number of years ago I got a photographically better shot of this behavior but failed to get the actual contact.
Here is one grooming its wing afterwards.
I’m fortunate to have a patient wife on these walks. Actually she read a book in the car while I photographed before and after our walk. We only stopped a few times during the walk. All these birds were within a quarter mile of each other.