On an early morning bird-stroll at Five Rivers this week I was hoping for flocks of warblers. I didn’t get any. I did, however, see many Gray Catbirds, Song Sparrows, and House Wrens. The highlight of the morning was an American Bittern that flushed from a pond and flew off far too quickly for my camera. Why is it that my camera is always up and ready when a common bird appears suddenly, but when a bird I’ve never managed to photograph flushes from 10 feet away all of my fingers turn to thumbs?

I did, however, manage to get some pretty cool shots of a juvenile Common Yellowthroat, a warbler that lives up to its name, preening. Even though its name fits it so well I would still like it more if it were called Bandit Warbler, for the male’s black mask, both because it sounds cooler and it would help avoid confusion with the Yellow-throated Warbler. Anyway, enjoy the pics, and, if you are a parent, wish that your kids were cleaning themselves by the age of four months!