[TN-Bird] Radnor L. / Connecticut + Y-b Fly

I headed out to Radnor Lake State Natural Area this morning with three 
objectives.  One was to field test my new lens (Canon 300mm f2.8 IS).  
The other two were to find and get a decent photo of a Connecticut 
Warbler.  It took considerable patience and a bit of luck, but I was 
successful on all three counts.

First I had to wait out the rain.  At around 8:30 I finally set off down 
the trail despite some light rain continuing.  At Grassy Point, I 
stopped to see what was around.  5 minutes into my stay, I heard the 
Connecticut sing a couple of times.  This bird is tough because it only 
gives a few song bursts (most I heard was 3) before going silent for 
anywhere from one minute to 30 minutes.  It was moving all around the 
point though, but I didn't see it first time through.  I wandered down 
to long bridge and doubled back.  On the return trip I decided to work 
on the warbler again.  After 10 minutes with no sign of it, I gave up 
and started to head back, and then immediately heard it again.  This 
time I was able to zero in on it and got a good look but no photo.  This 
area is pretty open so I decided this was worth some effort for a photo 
op.  After about 30 minutes with no sign of it, Chuck and Lola Estes 
showed up.  Another 10 minutes or so passed before we heard one song.  
Still another 10 minutes passed, and FINALLY Chuck caught a glimpse of 
some movement and we found the Connecticut perched in the open and 
preening.  Here's the result:

http://csloan.smugmug.com/gallery/8226557_PLfq2#537766280_VBFeV

Suffice to say, I'm in love with the new lens.  It's one of the sharpest 
lenses ever made, and the extra speed it gives me will open up a new 
world of forest interior photography.  Plus, I can attach a 1.4x 
extender and it then becomes a 420mm f4, with virtually no loss of 
quality.  Good stuff.

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was calling near the long bridge.

I'll be back in the morning for another photo effort.

Complete list below.

regards,

Chris Sloan
Nashville, TN

____________________________________________
Location:     Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Observation date:     5/16/09
Number of species:     46

Canada Goose     8
Wood Duck     3
Mallard     1
Great Blue Heron     2
Green Heron     1
Black Vulture     1
Bald Eagle     1
Broad-winged Hawk     1
Spotted Sandpiper     8
Yellow-billed Cuckoo     1
Chimney Swift     4
Ruby-throated Hummingbird     4
Downy Woodpecker     2
Hairy Woodpecker     2
Pileated Woodpecker     1
Eastern Wood-Pewee     3
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher     1
Acadian Flycatcher     2
Great Crested Flycatcher     2
Philadelphia Vireo     1
Red-eyed Vireo     9
Northern Rough-winged Swallow     15
Barn Swallow     2
Carolina Chickadee     10
Tufted Titmouse     5
Carolina Wren     18
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher     10
Gray-cheeked Thrush     1
Swainson's Thrush     2
American Robin     1
Cedar Waxwing     6
Magnolia Warbler     1
Blackburnian Warbler     1
Blackpoll Warbler     1
American Redstart     1
Louisiana Waterthrush     1
Kentucky Warbler     1
Connecticut Warbler     1
Wilson's Warbler     2
Summer Tanager     2
Scarlet Tanager     3
Eastern Towhee     1
Northern Cardinal     10
Indigo Bunting     3
Brown-headed Cowbird     15
American Goldfinch     5

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)


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