Blackpoll Warbler

While at DGCA I had several opportunities to photograph a Blackpoll Warbler. I made the most that I could out of those opportunities, but the results were not exceptional. Like most warblers, they were quite happy to flit about faster than I could keep up, picking insects off of leaves and branches.

I secretly suspect that they mocked me as they hopped about, moving just as they heard my camera beep-beep when it acquired focus. The joke is on them, however, because the focus was usually acquired on a nearby leaf or branch, not the bird. Ha! Who is laughing now, bouncy Blackpoll?

Mr. Speedy

Two weekends ago (the one before Memorial Day weekend) I made a morning bird watching visit to Dutch Gap Conservation Area (DGCA). Specifically, I walked what I call the "River Trail" (this is called the "Henricus Park Trail" if you follow the previous link to the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail website, but that website's description is out of date because the boardwalk they mention no longer exists). This is an out and back walk that totals 2.5 miles. A few weeks back Google announced the capability to create your own Google maps, which I promptly used to depict the trails within DGCA. Take a look here. The "River Trail" is the red one.

While on my little jaunt, I came across Mr. Speedy. He is a turtle of some variety who was making his way across, or perhaps along, the trail. Here is a fairly good description of our encounter:

1. Locate turtle.
2. Photograph turtle.
3. Get distracted by nearby bird activity.
4. Remember turtle.
5. Worry that I might step on turtle.
   
6. Return to step #1.

Eventually some part of that chain failed because I did not step on the turtle, and at some point I either failed to remember he was there or failed to relocate him. Here is a picture for posterity. Good times.