Blackpoll Warbler

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

Blackpoll Warbler

Common Name: Blackpoll Warbler

Scientific Name: Setophaga striata

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, though declining by about 88% in the last 50 years due to logging and extracting industries; current estimated population at 60 million

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Size: 5.5 inches

Description: crown is black; no eyering; white cheek; face is pale yellow with a dark eyeline; short straight yellow bill; black chin; white throat; two white wing bars; breast and belly are white; flanks and back have black stripes; very distinctive yellow legs; In late summer the plumage turns to a greenish-yellow above with dark streaking down the back and faint streaking on white underparts

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Male/Female: females look more like late summer males without the yellow

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Range: Alaska and Northern Canada to Northwestern South America

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Migration: considered the longest migration of any New World Warbler, 1500 miles of which is non-stop over water; migration stops are typically in the Eastern United States

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Season for Arizona: very rare to Arizona with less than 15 historical records

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Habitat: spruce and tamarack boreal forests; during migration usually evergreen and deciduous forests; however the photos here are all from Sweetwater Wetlands in mesquite, hackberry, and willow

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Community Behavior: solitary during breeding season, joins mixed warbler flocks at other times

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Feeding Behavior: forages by gleaning in low growing foliage with occasional hawking around branches

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Diet: Insects, including locusts, caterpillars, mosquitoes, ants, termites, gnats, and flies; during migration will also eat fruit (hence the hackberry at Sweetwater Wetlands)

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Nesting Behavior: open cup nest on large branch near tree trunk often spruce or fir; 3-4 days to build nest; 4 inches across and 2.5 inches deep; 3-5 whitish to pale green eggs with brown and purple blotches; incubation period 11-12 days; nestling period 8-10 days

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: check ABA’s Birding News on a daily basis

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Comments: song very high pitched, up to 10,000 Hz so difficult to hear

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Common Name: Black Throated Gray Warbler

Scientific Name: Setophaga nigrescens

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Conservation Status: Least Concern with an estimated population of about 2.4 million down by nearly 50% since 1966

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Size: 5.1 inches

Description: crown is black; supercilium is white; no eyering; yellow spot above lores; dark black cheek; short straight bill; black throat in male; two white wing bars; breast and belly are white; flanks have black stripes; nape and back gray; tail is long with white undertail

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Male/Female: males and females appear somewhat similar though males have a black throat and are generally darker with higher contrast

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Range: Southeast British Columbia to Southern Mexico; rare east of New Mexico/Colorado

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Migration: yes, though considered short distance; breeding mainly in Western United States

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Season for Arizona: year round resident though higher numbers from March until November

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Habitat: pinyon and juniper forests, pine-oak woodland mountains; winter residents remain in lower elevations

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Community Behavior: solitary or in mixed warbler flock

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Feeding Behavior: forages by gleaning in low growing foliage and searching among leaves on the ground; will also sally out to snatch flying insects

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Diet: Insects, oakworms and caterpillars, beetles, ants, flies, bugs, and spiders

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Nesting Behavior: open cup nest on large branch near tree trunk often fir or oak; usually 4 creamy white eggs with brown marks; incubation and nestling periods unknown

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: most mountain ranges from low to high elevation even 8000 feet; also rivers like San Pedro and Santa Cruz

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Comments: Is often found among small warbler/titmouse flocks; known to pretend to have a broken wing to distract intruders from its nest

Black and White Warbler

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

Black and White Warbler

Common Name: Black and White Warbler

Scientific Name: Mniotilta varia

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Conservation Status: Least Concern, though declined by 33% over the past 50 years; disappearing in its Mid-West US range; global estimates of 20 million

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Size: 5.1 inches

Description: crown is black and white striped; supercilium is white; white eyering; black cheek; long slightly curved black bill; black throat in male; two white wing bars; breast and belly are white; flanks have black stripes; nape is striped; back is mostly black; tail is fairly long with white spots; heavier and longer hind claw to help them move around on bark

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Male/Female: males and females appear somewhat similar though males have a black throat and are generally darker with higher contrast

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Range: Northwest Territory to Peru; excluding Western North America

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Migration: breeds in Central and Eastern United States and Canada, winters in Mexico, Central America, and Northwestern South America

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Season for Arizona: Spring and Fall

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Habitat: broad leaf or mixed mature woodland near water

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Community Behavior: solitary or small mixed warbler flock; combative and will attack other species or other Black and White Warblers that enter their territory

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Feeding Behavior: forages like nuthatches creeping up or down tree trunks and larger branches of older trees, especially cottonwoods

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Diet: insects, caterpillars, beetles, ants, flies, bugs, and spiders; also moth and butterfly larvae

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Nesting Behavior: cup nest on the ground with 4 or 5 creamy white eggs with bluish spots; incubation period is 10-12 days; nestling period is 8-10 days

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Where to Find in Southern Arizona: a rare transient to Arizona; check Sweetwater Wetlands; but also watch for reports on ABA Birding News

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Comments: This is one of the more easily seen warblers when present because of its feeding behavior since it is on open tree trunks and branches instead of being buried in clumps of leaves or pine needles; once called the “Black and White Creeper" 

About Bird Song

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

About Bird Song:

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I have purposely omitted discussion of bird song. This is because I am deaf. I do have a cochlear implant now and can hear some bird songs, but I can't distinguish one from another very well and I have no idea where the sound is coming from since I am only getting sound through one "ear". There are a few very distinct sounds I know (Elegant Trogon, Gila Woodpecker, Cardinal, Raven, Mexican Jay, the Gnatcatchers, and a few others). Hummingbirds I don't hear at all. So I can't really offer any great insight with regards to identifying birds by their songs.

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Having said that, I know many birders who take great pride in being able to identify a bird by its sound. And clearly, knowing what direction to look when you hear a sound is very helpful in finding birds.

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If this is a method of identifying warblers that you would like to learn, my suggestion would be 1) to get a CD of bird songs and listen over and over again to the most common Arizona warbler songs; or 2) as I mentioned there is software on the internet (such as iBird Pro, Sibley, Audubon, and Birdtunes for all birds or The Warbler Guide for warblers only) that can be used to learn particular bird songs. Once you have studied them, have someone test you. 

Identifying Warblers

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

About Identifying Warblers

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Compared to sparrows and the small flycatchers, identifying warblers is relatively easy -- provided you get a reasonable length of time with a good "look." Of course getting that good look is not always easy, and many times a warbler will be seen and gone much too quickly to identify it. Patience (with a little luck) is the key.

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As a general rule warblers have more color than sparrows and flycatchers; often yellow. The way they move about is helpful in differentiating warblers from other birds. And the warbler "song" is often a clue. But how to distinguish each individual warbler?

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Location is an importnt tool for identifying warblers. High up in Ponderosa Pines above 7,000 feet it's more likely to be an Olive or Grace's. The corollary to that is that you won't find an Olive or Grace's on the ground or rummaging around in low vegetation. On the other hand, both the Louisiana and Northern Waterthrush will nearly always be on or close to the ground in or around streams. A Black and White Warbler will typically be on the trunk or main branch of an old tree. So learning each warbler's preferred habitat is an important part of identifying them.

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Another good way is to learn the body parts. The llustration on the opposite page shows the key identifying parts of a warbler. Missing from the illustration are tertials, primaries, secondaries, coverts, mantle, and shoulder. I have found that you can make a positive identification without studying those additional pieces. So for simplicity sake, I have left them off the illustration.

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To identify a warbler, ask: What are the colors of the face? Is there an eyering, eye arc, or eyeline? Are there wing bars? Are there streaks on the flanks? A less obvious reference is the degree to which there is contrast between the back/wings and the breast/belly. For example, the Nashville, Virginia's, and Lucy's are very similar. Lucy's has a very low contrast while the Nashville contrast is higher. Virginia's is inbetween. Lucy's has no yellow while the Nashville's throat, breast, belly, and vent are yellow or yellowish. Virginia's breast and vent are yellow (or yellowish) but the throat is more white and the belly is more gray.

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Once you find and identify a particular warbler it will be much easier the second, third, and fourth time because you'll know where and what to look for.

About Photo Gear

Continuing to share my warbler photos along with information about each species, from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

About Photo Gear

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What photo gear is necessary to photograph warblers? Interesting question, without a definitive and universally accepted answer.

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Smart Phone cameras have improved immensely over the past couple of years. But simply put they just can't produce a good clear and large photo of a 4-6 inch Warbler flittering around in tree canopies. Small "Point and Shoot" cameras aren't much better even though they too have been much improved.

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I used several cameras and systems in the 1990's (including an APS film camera). But it wasn't until 2000, when I upgraded to a Canon EOS 1V 35 mm camera that I really started to see a difference in the result.

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And then along came digital. Simply put, Digital Cameras are a godsend for the Wildlife Photographer.

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The advantages are significant. 1) Never again running out of film in the middle of photographing a Bobcat. 2) Never again having the wrong film speed when coming across a Grizzly Bear with cubs in the woods. 3) Never again having to take your film to be developed and then going back to get it the next day. 4) Never again taking a photo of a Bald Eagle in flight only to find that once developed, its wing covered its face at the moment the shutter released.

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Being able to take 10, 20, 30 or more photos to get the one photo you want, the one you can sell, is the difference between success and failure. Also, with digital comes photo software and the ability to organize and label photos with events, locations, keywords, and ratings. This makes photos easy to find and print as well as easy to share or submit for publication. Books, greeting cards, albums are easy to make. What more could you ask for?

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So, in 2007, I changed to the Canon EOS 5D digital camera (12.8 megapixels). In 2008, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (21.1 megapixels) which allowed me to enlarge my photos to 13 inches by 19 inches for framing and get high quality prints. In 2015, another significant upgrade to the Canon 5DS (50.6 megapixels).

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With a 50 megapixel camera you get a very large file and the ability to crop as much as 80%. However, a camera will only produce a photo as good as the Lens.

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For years I used a 100-400 mm zoom lens. This was ideal when hiking and photographing large mammals. But for warblers, it just didn't have the clarity I wanted. And when Canon came out with a totally new design 400mm f/4 DO IS II USM in 2015, I took the leap.

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It's that combination that has allowed me to get the clarity I want.

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Tripod or handheld? I know some wildlife photographers swear by tripods for their 13+ pound 500 and 600 mm lenses. Many also use a telecoverter as well. That's a lot of gear to carry on a two-to-four mile hike up the mountainside looking for warblers.

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Admittedly I own a tripod. And for stationary shoots of mammals or large birds -- like the 40,000 Sandhill Cranes that visit Waterwater Draw each winter it is the best solution. But I have found that trying to get a 4-6 inch warbler in the viewfinder of a camera/lens sitting on a tripod extremely difficult. I suspect that for those photographers who love their tripods they are much better at that than I am, which is why they do it.

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I find that the much lighter Canon 400 mm f/4 DO IS II USM with its Image Stablizing system can be hand held with outstanding results. So, for me, I don't use a tripod for photographing warblers.

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Flash photography: another "controversial" subject. Flash can reduce shadows. Flash can help bring out the wonderful colors. However, many will argue that use of flash with nocturnal birds -- such as owls or nightjars can damage their eyes. Some will argue that flash can hurt chicks whose eyes aren't fully developed yet. I think with today's digital cameras and their ability to go to an ASA of 6400 or higher, flash isn't as necessary and may do more harm than good. So Flash photography too is a matter of preference.

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Playback: With bird song now so readily available to birders via Smart Phone, it is used by many birders/guides/photographers. If the type of bird you are looking for is nearby, playback will often ellicit a response. Alternatively, recording a bird song and immediately playing it back might bring that bird closer. Whether that is significantly disruptive to the bird -- or whether that should matter to you -- is debatable. It would seem that if all birders used playback on a regular basis, it would severly disrupt bird feeding/foraging leading to health and possibly mating problems. Note: Use of playback is illegal in National Parks and Wildlife Refuges -- which may be a good reason not to use it anywhere -- or only sparingly.

About Photographing Warblers

I thought it might be of interest to share my warbler photos along with information about each species. So, over the next days, I will copy/paste pages from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

About photographing Warblers

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Warblers are not the most cooperative subjects, so photographing them can be challenging - not impossible, but certainly not like photographing hummingbirds or other birds on a bird feeder. (It is rare that warblers will go to a bird feeder. One of the few exceptions is the Yellow Rumped Warbler if the feeder is placed near its habitat).

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The problem is that warblers are either flying from tree to tree, sitting in trees, or harder still: foraging in trees. If flying, there is often a bright blue background so that the bird is merely a silhouette, lacking color and clarity. And even then the time spent flying between trees is measured in tenths of a second. So because we are talking about 4-6 inch birds moving very fast, focusing -- even with auto focus, and getting a good aerial photo is next to impossible.

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If birds are in trees they could be in the canopies 40 to 80 feet off the ground creating both a distance problem and angle problem. Also, warblers like Grace's and Olive are typically buried in pine needles. Even if warblers are lower in the trees you often have a problem with branches or leaves obstructing the photo and creating a focusing problem. That may require manual focus and loss of precious seconds.

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Most warblers are in constant motion from branch to branch or tree to tree, and often partially or completely obscured by leaves or branches. And unless you have been sitting perfectly still for many minutes, they probably know you are there. So the warbler will typically forage on the back side of the tree making it difficult to even see the bird let alone photograph it. And, if you move even slightly to get a better angle you could scare the warbler and he'll fly away.

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Lighting is often a problem when photographing birds, especially warblers. Shooting up into the sun generally won't produce a good result. In cloudy situations it may be difficult to bring out all the wonderful colors -- even making identification difficult. And in sunny situations, with all the leaves and branches, you might find a multitude of shadows obscuring parts of the warbler.

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Most warblers are shy if not skiddish. There are a few exceptions like the Painted Redstart which doesn't seem to mind so much if people are around.

So, what do you do? One approach is to find a spot where warblers visit on a regular basis. Often this means near a water or food source. Then you consider the best place to stand or sit where 1) the sun is behind you; 2) the wind (if strong) is in your face; 3) there are some open areas; 4) there are dead branches on which birds can perch; and 5) where there is a variety of vegetation upon which warblers can forage.

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Then stand or sit still and wait. It could take many minutes for a bird to show up. When a bird arrives in the back of a tree or deep inside a tree, you must resist the temptation to move around to get a better view. You have to wait patiently in hopes that the bird will eventually come to the front of the tree to forage -- or better still, perch on that dead branch. If it never does, you wait for the next bird to show up and hope for the better.

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And with some luck, a warbler will sit still, as if to acknowledge its beauty and willingness to pose for a photo.

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About birding etiquette

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Many warblers have been significantly impacted by human activity and development over the past 50 years. Some have lost as much as 50% of their 1967 population. Couple that with an increase in birders and birding activity it is important for birders to be cognizant and respectful of birds -- especially when nesting or mating. Inappropriate behavior can cause birds to abandon their nests leaving eggs or chicks behind. Bird habitats are often fragile, so trampling through wilderness areas can disturb those habitats.

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It is also important to respect private property. That means not going onto private land without permission. It means closing gates after entering. It means leaving a "donation" when asked.

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Best Warbler Locations in Southern Arizona

I thought it might be of interest to share my warbler photos along with information about each species. So, over the next days, I will copy/paste pages from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com. 

Location Summary: (Warblers not listed are rare to Arizona and have been reported at any location.

Mount Lemmon, Huachuca Canyon, Ramsey Canyon, Miller Canyon, Carr Canyon:

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Grace's Warbler

Hermit Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Olive Warbler

Painted Redstart

Red Faced Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler

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Sweetwater Wetlands:

Black and White Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

MacGillivray's Warbler

Nashville Warbler

Northern Parula

Orange Crowned Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow Rumped Warbler

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San Pedro River, Santa Cruz River, Sabino Creek, Empire Gulch:

Common Yellowthroat

Louisiana Waterthrush

Lucy's Warbler

MacGillivray's Warbler

Orange Crowned Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Arizona Warblers: Seasonal Summary

I thought it might be of interest to share my warbler photos along with information about each species. So, over the next days, I will copy/paste pages from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com.

Seasonal Summary: (Warblers not listed are rare to Arizona and have been reported any season).

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Year Round:

Black Throated Gray Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Olive Warbler

Orange Crowned Warbler

Painted Redstart

Rufous Capped Warbler

Yellow Breasted Chat

Yellow Rumped Warbler

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Winter:

Louisiana Waterthrush

Magnolia Warbler

Palm Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Yellow Throated Warbler

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Summer: (may include Spring and Fall)

Grace's Warbler

Lucy's Warbler

Red Faced Warbler

Virginia's Warbler

Yellow Warbler

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Spring and Fall:

Black and White Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Hermit Warbler

MacGillivray's Warbler

Northern Parula

Prothonotary Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

Wilson's Warbler

About Finding Warblers in Southern Arizona

I thought it might be of interest to share my warbler photos along with information about each species. So, over the next days, I will copy/paste pages from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com. 

About finding Warblers

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Looking for warblers is different than looking for large mammals. With mammals you need to cover as much ground as possible because the number of animals is quite small compared to birds. Unlike large mammals, birds have wings. They can "get away" very quickly. Birding and hiking don't go together. When birding you might walk ten feet and stop for several minutes to allow the birds to come back to an area that you think is promising.

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Southern Arizona is one of the finest birding locations in North America. It is the southernmost range for many North American warblers -- as well as the northernmost range for many South and Central American warblers. It is the westernmost range for many eastern warblers -- as well as the easternmost range for many western warblers.

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Of the 56 species of warblers found in the United States, 36 can be found in Southern Arizona. Of the remaining 20 species, 13 have been reported over the years (some with fewer than 10 reports).

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When birding, there are several things to consider. Many warblers live in Southern Arizona year round. Some are here just for the winter. Some just for the summer. And, some migrate through staying here for short periods in both the spring and fall. Therefore, the time of year will determine which warblers you might find.

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Time of day is important. During the hot summer months, birding may be best between 7:00 am and 11:00. During cooler months birding might be good any time during the day.

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Day of the week is also an important consideration. Recreational areas can be very crowded on weekends -- especially in the summer. I avoid Sabino Canyon on weekends - summer or winter. It is the most hiked recreational area in Arizona. Mount Lemmon which is a Spring, Summer, and Fall birding site can be very busy on weekends --- especially the campgrounds. So I avoid Rose Canyon Lake and Hitchcock Campgrounds on weekends during the summer. Molina Basin Campground is frequently closed to camping so birding there can be good on weekends when closed to camping. And even on weekends if you go early enough you can have peaceful and quiet birding on Incinerator Ridge, Bear Wallow, and the various picnic sites. After 10:00 am the picnic sites getting pretty crowded.

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​Summerhaven to Marshall Gulch can be good before 10:00 am (when stores open). After 10:00 it gets pretty busy. Likewise, the Santa Cruz River near Tubac will be crowded on weekends. Instead, bird early along the Santa Cruz River near St. Gertrudis Lane in Tumacacori. San Pedro River is good nearly any day of week as are Huachuca, Ramsey, and Miller Canyons.

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There are "birding only" sites like Whitewater Draw and Lake Cochise, however those aren't particularly good warbler sites. Sweetwater Wetlands is a "birding only" site and good choice for warblers on weekends since many of the local schools have field trips September through May at Sweetwater. They usually don't arrive until 10:30 so bird before that or on weekends.

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Weather is another factor. Birds can sense drops in barometric pressure which leads to increased feeding before a storm. Once clouds roll in and during periods of heavy rain birding is not so good. The after affects of storms can inhibit birding. Heavy rains can flood nest sites and/or reduce, even eliminate foraging areas, causing birds to move on to "better pastures." However, if foraging sites haven't been destroyed by storm, you may find photographing them easier because the birds will be exhausted, hungry, a little more sluggish, and lower in the trees.

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Wind creates problems for birds foraging -- in addition to problems for the photographer. During wind storms, warblers tend to move lower in the trees which could actually help. Warblers will also forage more on the Leeward side than the Windward side, so position yourself accordingly.

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Consider that most warblers are insect eaters. Some will sally out to catch a "fly" but most will poke around in trees looking for worms, larvae, or other insects in the trees. So, birding when it is "buggy" often provides a satisfying result.

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Some of the warblers, like the Prothonotary Warbler, eat berries. So, if a Mulberry Bush is fruiting, that could be a good place to look.

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Finally, I would recommend checking the ABA's Birding News for Arizona each day. There, guides and birders post what they have seen/heard that day (or the prior day). The Audubon's weekly Rare Bird Alert is also helpful in identifying where to go to find some of the rarer warblers. 

Warblers of Arizona

I thought it might be of interest to share my warbler photos along with information about each species. So, over the next days, I will copy/paste pages from my latest book: "Warblers of Arizona, A Guide to Finding and Photographing Warblers in Southern Arizona." 

If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at exclusivelywildlifephotos.com or info@azuregate.com. 

Sweetwater Wetlands

We had a day without breakfast so I made a quick trip over to Sweetwater Wetlands at 6:00 am. While hoping to find a Bobcat or Raccoon that early the other animal I saw was an unidentified large rodent that scooted across the path in front of me. No photo and not even long enough to identify.

It got hot and muggy quickly so I was only there for about an hour which made it a little too early for many birds. 

I did however find a Tropical Kingbird with a large dragonfly:

Tropical Kingbird

Molino Basin

A quick trip early morning (to beat the heat) to Molino Basin which is one of the first stops on the road to Mount Lemmon. It's still quite hot, but the combination of water and trees provides some interesting birding.

The moment we arrived there was a beautiful Hooded Oriole sitting atop one of the trees. It was a good start to the day:

Hooded Oriole 

Las Cienegas

After the hike in Sawmill Canyon we drove back through Las Cienegas near Sonoita. Lots of standing water from the monsoons, so not a big surprise to see a Killdeer, but nonetheless a nice photo. Also lots of raptors including this Red Tailed Hawk. And, of course we had to stop to show them the Black Tailed Prairie Dog Town. Here are some photos:

Killdeer

Red Tailed Hawk

Black Tailed Prairie Dog

Garden Canyon, Huachuca Mountains

Catching up a bit from an unusually busy summer.

Christine and I took our daughter and son-in-law to Fort Huachuca. After getting passes for them we headed up Garden Canyon for a hike in Sawmill Canyon at the end of the road.

It was a lovely time and beautiful hike. Lots of butterflies this time of year and seemingly endless supply of Grace's Warblers.

Although my "focus" was on family, I did get a couple of photos to share:

Grace's Warbler

Two Tailed Swallowtail