Viewing Birds From Different Angles

I find that it can be a challenge trying to get a good view of the birds this time of the year. Many times I can hear migrant birds singing high in the treetops but can't get a good look at them because there are just too many leaves in the way.

 During a visit to Great pond Preserve in Glastonbury I found a spot where I could lie on the ground and look up into the trees. I  heard a  Rose-breasted Grosbeak singing for several minutes before it finally came into view. A few minutes late I was able to locate the female too. The advantage of watching these birds while lying on my back was that I didn't feel any neck strain and the view seemed more dramatic from the angle I was looking at them.

 

   Another way that I was able to get a good viewing angle was to walk up a hill by way of a power line trail. I found a spot where I was able to get closer to eye level with this tree. I was catching a glimpse of a Northern Parula as it was singing and moving from branch to branch. It seemed to be moving toward the outer edge where I hoped that I would be able to take a photo of it. Instead, a Blue-winged Warbler showed up on the branch I was expecting the parula to be. It wasn't singing but it had the dark eye line mark, was mostly yellow, and had the slightly darker wing area.

 After the picture was taken several other species passed through including Black & White Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Yellow-throated Vireo. Sometimes it pays just to stay still and watch one tree for a while.

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Later in the morning I stopped by the fairgrounds where I found so Greater Yellowlegs and Solitary Sandpipers racing across the mud puddles.