We spent some time watching the Warblers gleaning the Aspens with great speed and alacrity … usually much faster than I can move the long camera lens to find them, focus on them and release the shutter.

I need more practice!

Here are some of the photos:

This Nashville Warbler sang the whole time it picked up morsels, flitting from branch to branch:

This Yellow Warbler preferred to glean in the tag alders and willows along the shores of Gereaux (Big) Lake:

Yellow Rumped Warbler resting in a black Ash tree before returning to gleaning an Aspen.

American Redstart gleaning in Tag Alders:

Female Red Winged Blackbird surveys the scene from her usual Cattail perch:

Along the way we stopped to enjoy some spring flowers:

Hobblebush  [good folklore but misleading drawing in the link] in dappled shade is progressing again after the frost we’ve been having.

And the Spring Beauties are still abundant:

In some of the Tamarack bogs the buds of the Sheep Sorrel are about to open amongst the  Cottongrass.

I am going to have to find a good resource to ID these dragonflies:

Oft-photographed swamp in springtime:

Some of the Warblers are passing through.  Others will remain here (to fledge a few youngsters) until August then begin their migration southward to Central and South America.  Being insectivores they have no choice but to migrate  back to a winter food supply.  In the meantime now is the best time to see them …. before the deciduous leaves come fully out.  Once that happens they are very very difficult to see (and photograph).

Obviously gleaning is Nature’s way to control woodland “pests”.  Better than neonicotinoids!  [The Link has a good synergy diagram.]

Although 30 months old, this article is a good reminder for all of us:  http://www.birdlife.org/americas/news/canadian-scientists-publish-human-related-bird-mortality-estimates

PS If you are clicking on the above links to the All about Birds website, try clicking on the “Typical voice” buttons for the Warblers.  Amazing songbirds!