SE Colorado Birding

Birding and discussion: A conservation-oriented birding blog that emphasizes low-impact birding and sustainable birding practices together with the enjoyment of birds. Southeast Colorado offers a diversity of habitats which provide premiere birding opportunities. Save Sabal Palm

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Gray Catbird "hidden" inside my blue spruce tree


Gray Catbirds are skulkers, staying in the dark recesses of thickets they can be difficult to photograph. They are beautiful singers that have one of the most complex songs. They also have am repertoire of vocalizations, including a number of what I can only categorize as "sweet nothings" that is used between family members. I know this because a pair nested under my dining room window several years ago and I was able to watch them as close as 8 inches away (through blinds) and listen to their vocalizing for hours each day.This catbird was singing softly from an internal branch about 8 feet off the ground inside my 40 foot tall blue spruce (fortunately these trees often have a big open space inside with bare limbs as shown in these pics). I approached very carefully--slowly and quietly so as not to intrude (yup, that's the key--DO NOT INTRUDE, not only is it considerate but it pays off with good views and good pics). Apparently this bird thought it was well hidden by the spruce branches through which I was viewing it so it continued singing while I went into the house for my camera, returning to take several pics including some when my flash went off (I can't seem to figure out how to turn my flash off) from only about 8 feet away (peaking through the outside branches). The flash is captured in a reflection in this bird's eye in both pics. SeEtta

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