Yellow rumped warblers were in migrating abundance on Hilton Head. One or two winter over in my yard, but there were dozens everywhere in South Carolina. The ones in these photos do not have the yellow patch on the top of their head so perhaps they are females.
This red algae was in bloom on one of the ponds spreading like a royal velvet carpet. It must have hidden small midges or water insects, because the warblers were all over it balancing carefully on any stick and reaching their bills into the water.
In the shadows of the woods they appear a deep blue-gray rather than a dull gray. They will leave this area and head up north to breed in the pine woods. They do not sit still for long and capturing a photo is a challenge. (It is even a greater challenge when a Canadian grannie walks to your side and begins to quiz you on the celebration of holidays in America!)
I've never seen red algae blooming close up, it's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteCelia there are many kinds of red algae and some are more filamentous and others more plant like.
ReplyDeleteyes...your butt looks yellow...ha....and pretty cool they can stand on the algea...must be pretty light...
ReplyDeleteSurprising that there are just an amazing number of the yellow rumps once they're here.
ReplyDeletethese little guys winter over here in my yard. Now I know why poison ivy comes up in my yard every spring. Every spring I put on my gloves and dig up the sprouts.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen red algae. It is prettier than I would have thought.
ReplyDeleteYou do take the most beautiful photos. These are so very lovely. I do enjoy going out to ponds and marshes too. I don't know where to find one here in Hawaii though that's close by.
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