STOPPING AT THE RIDGE

Mid August brings waves of warblers and other song birds to my ridge overlooking Lake Superior. These returnees do not have the blaze of color I see in the spring, but a more subdued smattering of golds and olive greens. Although, some of the youngsters are showing some bright color.

The juveniles seem to make up the most numbers, flitting through the spruce, birch and hazelnut shrubs. I enjoy watching these flocks of subdued beauties, as they feed for their long trip south.

Here are some images of birds that are here this month of August.

Alder Flycatcher

American Redstart

Bay-breasted Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black and white Warbler

Blue-headed Vireo

Canada Warbler

Juvenile Cedar Waxwing

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Thankfully the little Black-capped Chickadee is with me year around.

Golden-winged Warbler

Least Flycatcher

These next three photos are birds that arrive in my Jonvick Creek each year.

Least Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Northern Waterthrush

A pretty little Nashville through filtered leaf light.

Nashville Warbler

Philadelphia Vireo

Red-eyed Vireo

The White-throated Sparrow is one of my favorite birds that follows me each day and eats sunflower seeds by my feet.

The Wilson's Warbler is a rare sighting each year.

I will see many of these birds into September. I always hope for a long, extended fall every year; for it is a long time until they return in April.

Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke