Prothonotary Warbler, Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Oak Harbor, Ohio

After having some fun with the Prothonotary Warbler yesterday, here is a more classic approach. This male Prothonotary was excavating a nest hole along the boardwalk at Magee Marsh Wildlife Area on the Erie Shore in northern Ohio in the late light of yesterday evening. He was so busy he paid no attention to the humans watching him. He also inspired a Day Poem.

Today’s Prothonotary Warbler was a male,

busy excavating a nest hole in a snag about

4 feet from the boardwalk at Magee Marsh,

well below eye-level, hopping around on

the boardwalk rails and his snag within feet

of the facinated humans watching him. Such

aplum. Such self-assurance. Such confidence.

Only a Prothonotary would dare, and of

course we are delighted that he does. We

are ignited that he does…so bright, so bold,

so very very Prothonotary. Such a bird!

Sony RX10iv at 600mm. Program mode. 1/500th @ f4 @ ISO 1000. Processed in Polarr.