Prothonotary Warbler, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor Ohio

The Prothonotary Warbler is one of my favorite warblers at Magee Marsh on the Erie Shore in Ohio (or anywhere for that matter). I was disappointed last year when they did not arrive on territory (they are nesting birds here) by the time the Biggest Week in American Birding was over and I was headed back home, but this year the “waves” of early and late warblers are all mixed up, so they are here with the early birds…much to my delight. They are among the brightest residents of Magee Marsh, and certainly among the loudest. I wrote a little poem about it.

Prothonotary Warbler! Just over my head.

Almost too close to focus on. Yellow!

Such a yellow it leaves a blue bird burned on

your retina, like a color negative. And loud.

Singing, head tipped back, neck twisted,

belting out its song. Such a bird! If I don’t

see another warbler all week I am satisfied.

(But of course I fully expect to see a lot more.)

Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/800th and 1/500th @ ISO 100 @ f4. Processed in Polarr and assembled in FrameMagic.