BYOB Birding Your Own Backyard...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Colossians 1:16 - For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

Male Yellow-rumped Warbler bird, Setophaga coronata, in bright breeding plumage. Perched in Water Oak tree. Photographed in spring in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. The yellow-rumped warbler Setophaga coronata is a North American bird species combining four closely related forms: the eastern myrtle warbler ssp coronata; its western counterpart, Audubon`s warbler ssp group auduboni; the northwest Mexican black-fronted warbler ssp nigrifrons; and the Guatemalan Goldman`s warbler ssp goldmani.

​Tuesday, 6:30 PM -  The thistle-seed sock I hung by the fire pit is working! A pair of American Goldfinches are clung to it and feeding away. I try to sneak up for a closer shot. Although they look like bold and confident birds, they certainly do not allow me to approach and skittishly fly off.
 
But while I was closer to the Woodline, I notice quite a bit of small bird activity. Birding takes patience. Perhaps that is why it never appealed to me in my younger years! But as I am able to stand still for just a few moments longer, I am able to train my lens upon two new sites.
 
First was a brightly colored grey, white, yellow, and black masked looking bird. I thought perhaps I had a new species of warbler for me but soon realized it was a male Yellow-rumped Warbler in his full breeding regalia. I had only seen the more drab winter dressings before.
 
The second sight was a less colorful passerine. I need the help of the Merlin ID app for this one. A new life bird for my photography life list: a Red-eyed Vireo!
 
This birding thing is now become a full-blown passion. I love the excitement and thrill I get each time I’m able to check off a new species on this glorious scavenger hunt created by our Father in heaven.

Athens, Clarke County, Georgia

Life bird: Red-eyed Vireo

Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, sitting an a deer antler near a wooden bird house nest box. Photographed in spring in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. The eastern bluebird is a small thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. It is the state bird of Missouri and New York.

Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, sitting an a deer antler. Photographed in spring in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. The eastern bluebird is a small thrush found in open woodlands, farmlands, and orchards. It is the state bird of Missouri and New York.

Male Yellow-rumped Warbler bird, Setophaga coronata, in bright breeding plumage. Perched in Water Oak tree. Photographed in spring in Athens, Clarke County, Georgia, USA. The yellow-rumped warbler Setophaga coronata is a North American bird species combining four closely related forms: the eastern myrtle warbler ssp coronata; its western counterpart, Audubon`s warbler ssp group auduboni; the northwest Mexican black-fronted warbler ssp nigrifrons; and the Guatemalan Goldman`s warbler ssp goldmani.

American Goldfinch on a thistle sock

American Goldfinch