My Nemesis...

(Also YardBird #34 for this year's visual record).  This young Common Yellowthroat was darting around in the garden as I was eating breakfast this morning.  Quick as a flash, I grabbed my camera and scooted out onto the deck, hoping to get a shot of this very uncooperative little warbler.  Ordinarily, I would not be inclined to post a photo like this where so much of the bird is obscured.  But, in the case of this species, this shot is perfect.  Because, you see, this is my Nemesis Bird.  

Common Yellowthroats can be found just about anywhere in the US in the summer months, usually loudly singing or chipping as they dart in and out of vegetation near water or marshy areas.  So, you would think that I'd have, like, a gazillion shots of them.  But no.  You would be wrong.  I have the worst possible luck photographing these irritating little creatures.  In fact, I saw/heard at least a half dozen while I was out walking with my friend this morning - not a one of them popped up above the vegetation long enough for a photo.  So, I'm keeping this partially obscured shot.

We had a really great walk this morning at a national wildlife refuge about 40 minutes from here.  We spent about 3 hours on the trail and racked up an impressive 44 species!  That's not easy to do at this time of year.  Luck favored us with quite a few late warblers as well as a half-dozen migratory duck species, sandhill cranes (rare in this area), gallinules, raptors and shorebirds.  To top it off, the weather was glorious and every person we encountered (not that many) donned masks.  It was nearly 2 by the time I got home so I didn't take the kayak out - hopefully tomorrow.

I've been reflecting on the very embarrassing Presidential Debate the other night and I think that the next time those two convene, the moderator needs to have a taser.  Or maybe a fire hose. Or a paintball gun.

Stay safe. Be kind.

xo
Debbi