Having finished a large project this afternoon, I felt free to take off a couple of hours early and head out to Tift Nature Preserve.  I had been dying to get a little birding in since last weekend's trip to Amherst State Park.  It was a glorious day, just a tad cool, but full of sun and birds!

My 2 highlights were close up views of a beautiful Magnolia Warbler and a distance view, but a life list addition of a Wood Duck.  Even from afar, I could see he was a real beauty!

I never did see the birds some other folks had recently reported at this park: Sandhill Crane, Screech Owls, Belted Kingfisher, and an American Bittern.  I guess I'll just have to go back!

Oh, as I was leaving, I saw 3 separate people enter the park with humungous lenses mounted on their cameras.  Ohhhhh, I was drooling.  I left the park around 7:30 PM and I've read that taking pictures in the waning light of evening or early morning produces the best photos.  I'll bet these guys came away with some awesome photos!  One day I'll get there: one day...

It's been a remarkable spring and my eyes are feasting on beauty everywhere I turn. I thought I'd just make a post so I could put up some of the photos I've been able to capture these past few days.  I've been really enjoying the pair of House Wrens who have been very busy building a nest again in the nest box we have. I had to laugh the other day as one of them kept trying and trying to get a 4 inch stick through that little hole.  Try as he might, he couldn't get it in horizontally!  Haha!  Finally, the little bugger figured he had to turn it and he got it in there at last!  Very comical!

The only thing I haven't seen around our yard so far this spring is the Baltimore Oriole.  Last year, they arrived the only a day after the Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.  I've had my orange and grape jelly waiting for weeks now.

Oh, and speaking of Grosbeaks, last year someone pointed out to me that the males always arrive before the females. Other folks disputed that. Although the jury is still out, my 2nd year experience is proving that the males have, indeed, arrived before the females.

I haven't gotten a decent photo of an Eastern Towhee yet, but I've gotten some wonderful looks through my binoculars.  I sooooo want a new lens! 

I was taken to lunch by a client today and found myself close to Amherst State Park on a gorgeous Friday afternoon.  How could I NOT???  I "just happened" to have packed all my gear, so - I unobtrusively changed from my nice clothes to my hiking clothes and headed over.  I was not disappointed!

I spent a good 3 hours in the park, greeted by 2 gorgeous Baltimore Orioles even before I opened the trunk to get out my "stuff".  Wow!  That was a treat and the first of the year sighting for me.

I found so many Blue-rumped Warblers, I stopped counting!  There were loads of Palm Warblers too (I think that might be my favorite warbler). I saw Black and White warblers, a Great Blue Heron (never got his pic, sadly), and what I think was a Belted Kingfisher.  That bird was C O O L!!!  He dove past me following the creek bed and was out of sight before I could blink.  Another time he came around, he swirled around, hung momentarily upside-down from a branch hanging over the creek, then whipped off with a strange noise.  He came one last time - and I thought I was ready with my camera, but I totally missed him again.  He was mostly blue-gray and white - with a collar near his neck - if he was a Belted Kingfisher, I suspect that's where the belt comes in.  Super cool bird!

The warblers were so friendly, paying me hardly any never mind as I settled in to watch and photograph them.  It was an exceptionally birdy and delightful day; one I will remember forever.  Red Admirals still abound...  Oh Lord, how marvelous is the work of Your hands!