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All photographs by David Lilly

Bird photographs from New Brunswick < Click Here >

Eastern Phoebe in Early Morning Light

A early morning to my local Marsh today produced some great early morning light on the Eastern Phoebe.


I especially like the rim lighting. Rim lighting is when the bird is almost black with the light lighting the edges of the bird. Some photographers call it back lighting.


You always have to be looking for photo opportunities.


Nikon D 850 with a Nikon 200 - 500mm lens

Juncos are Everywhere

This spring it seems to me there are Juncos everywhere.


However, they are not easy to photograph. They are always on the ground, so getting eye level was a must  for me.


In my backyard I was able to photograph one in a maple tree.


Nikon D 500 with Nikon 500mm PF lens.

Latest Birds at my Feeders

Everyday I kept an eye on the feeders. Many days a new bird will appear.


The last couple of days the Purple finches have been coming regularly. 


I checked my bird list for the feeders and noticed the last date for the Chipping sparrow was May 2021, so it was a nice surprise when the bird appeared and posed for me.


Nikon D 500 with a Nikon 500mm pf lens

Nest Building Time

I went for a walk in the local park today. I figured I would save on gas and visit my local forest.


A couple of days ago I observed a Yellow-bellied sapsucker picking on a birch tree. Today, I got to photograph the bird feeding on sap from a birch tree.


They make a bunch of little squares on the tree letting the sap from the tree fill up the squares. The sapsucker then makes his rounds and feeds off of the sap. Also, today I observed a Sapsucker building a nest about Six meters up in a large birch tree. 


It should be noted the two Sapsuckers to the right are not the same Sapsucker. 


I was looking for warblers as will today and was not disappointed with the Black and white warbler moving very fast in and out of the thick bush.


A Black-capped chickadee found a nesting site about eye level. As I observed the chickadee  the bird  continued to clean out the hole.


Nikon D 850 with a Nikon 500mm pf lens.

Spring Migration in Full Force

I have always said May is the best month of the year.


All of the Migrants are either passing through or establishing their territory.


On my walks in local parks I am seeing and hearing many migrants,


the leaves are not on the trees making it easy to see the birds. The males are singing and they are very colourful.


The Yellow warbler was easy to spot because of the bright yellow and he was singing loudly.


The Tree swallows were flying around a pond and checking out the large dead trees for possible nesting sites.


As I walked by a large marsh I was expecting to see a marsh wren as I have seen them in this marsh for several years.


The Northern Waterthrush and the American Redstart was easy to locate as they were singing while hoping to attract a mate.


I have been seeing a lot of Yellow-bellied sapsuckers this year. Once they find a tree- in this case a Alder tree they make a chess board pattern in the bark. The squares collect sap and the Sapsucker collects the sap.


Nikon D 850 with a Nikon 500mm pf lens

Two Solitary Birds

I walked in my local forest and found a surprise in a small flooded area.


A Solitary sandpiper was walking along the shore . This the second Solitary sandpiper I have seen in New Brunswick. I was a bit surprised to see a sandpiper in this location.


Ih the two photos to the right shows how light can play on a photo. Same bird but a different position. One is warm and one photo is colder or bluer.


The Ruby-throated hummingbird was early visitor to my bird feeder. It was getting dark but it stayed on the little branch that I attached to the feeder long enough for me to get a few photos.


I had to do some editing in Lightroom .



Nikon D 850 with a Nikon 500mm PF lens.

Female Red-Winged Blackbird

The Female Red-winged blackbird looks nothing like the male.


This is the first time this.spring I have seen the females. The males have been back since April.

Local Wetland Birds

All bird photographers have heard it a dozens of times explore your own local areas and you will be surprised the number of birds you will find.


Yesterday, I got up early and walked the local wetlands. I have seen many birds in this wetland, Yesterday, I counted 14 different species. To the right are photos of some of the birds I saw.


For the first time this year I photographed the White -crowned  sparrow, I usually see the White -throated sparrow, so this was a surprise.


In the corner of the wetland there is a small woodlot, there I photographed a Yellow warbler and a Blackened white warbler, the Black and white warbler leaped from one branch to another. I was lucky enough to photograph it in mid air as the bird made the  leap.


The Common Yellowthroat is not so common, so it was a surprise to see it in the marsh.


Of course I could not resist the Red-winged blackbird as it posed for me.


Nikon D 850 with a 500mm PF Lens

Some Birds From The Past Two Days

I have seen all of the birds below prior to the last couple of days, however I did not have great photographs of the Veery or the Swanson's thrush.


These birds can only be found in swap locations. They usually hide in the undergrowth making it difficult to photograph them.


The Common yellowthroat  and the Swamp sparrow are easier to photograph because they like too  perch and sing to attract a mate.


The Ruby-throated hummingbird comes to my feeder. I set and wait for him to search on a search I attached to my feeder.


Nikon D 850 with a Nikon 500mm PF lens.