Indigo Buntings at Raven Run
Today I made a trip over to Raven Run Nature Sanctuary and I am pleased to report that Spring Migration is on full display! I started on the “Green” trail in front of the nature center and to the historic Prather house. There I found three turkeys - two toms and one hen. The toms were on full display and were doing their best to win over the hen’s heart.
Wild Turkey. Two toms in full display. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 2200.
In this same area a Prairie Warbler was continuously singing while it was perched high in the tree tops. At ground level, a Common Yellowthroat kept low and hidden in the brush. An American Goldfinch landed on a nearby bush for a quick visit, and a Chipping Sparrow called out from the field behind me.
Prairie Warbler. This prairie kept its distance from me, staying high in the tree tops. It dropped to a lower branch of this cedar for a few moments to snag an insect before heading back to the higher canopy to continue singing. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 3600.
American Goldfinch. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1250 sec, ISO 1250.
Chipping Sparrow. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 1600.
All of the plants are in bloom, particularly large vines of what appears to be honeysuckle. A quick movement in the honeysuckle caught my attention and I was surprised to see a hummingbird. What was even more surprising was that it was spending all of its time at a spider’s web, not at the flowers. It wasn’t even trying to eat the spider. Then it dawned on me what it was doing. Hummingbirds use spider webs to build their nests, so this hummingbird was gathering nesting material.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Beak open to gather the spider web to use as nesting material. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 9000.
I spent the next two hours hiking the green and blue trails behind the nature center and caught sight of Great Crested Flycatchers, Tufted Titmouse, Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhee, a rarely seen American Redstart, a Northern Parula, and lots of Indigo Buntings. Most of the Indigos were staying high in the canopy so I was having a tough time getting good pictures. Then one got brave and flew down close to me. Like really close - so close I had to back up for the lens to focus. I kept my movements slow and the indigo stayed put and started singing. Now we’re talking!
Indigo Bunting. I was so thrilled this little guy came down and landed on this perch. So beautiful. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 900.
Indigo Bunting. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/1600 sec, ISO 1000.
I continued walking down the trail and it started raining. The trail got muddy and I slipped and fell, but neither I nor my camera got hurt. Eventually I turned back towards the car. Along the way I saw another Indigo Bunting but it was further off. Still, a nice little portrait of it perched on a plant - milkweed perhaps?
Indigo Bunting. Nikon Z8 with Nikkor Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens at f/6.3, 1/2500 sec, ISO 2800.
All in all, a good day at Raven Run. I look forward to exploring new sites tomorrow.
Happy birding!
