A Very Special Treat

As I sat in the back yard, watching and photographing the usual hungry feathered things as they dined at our feeders, I noticed something just a bit out of the ordinary. A small brown bird with a striped breast was walking around under the feeders. Not hopping like warblers and other tiny yard birds typically do. This one was definitely 'walking'. As I focused to take a shot I realized that it was a bird that I've only seen twice in the almost twenty years I've lived here in Gainesville, at least I thought it was. I was able to take only five photos before the beautiful bird flew off. 'Merlin' agreed with my call...Ovenbird!
Ovenbirds are shy little warblers.They're insectivores, so not interested in the selection of delicious seeds, nuts and berries we offer at our feeders. And this one was apparently new to the yard or just passing through so it didn't even sample the BarkButter. They search for insects by walking along branches and through leaf litter on the ground. And yes, they 'walk' with 'exaggerated footsteps and a bobbing gait' (Merlin). They winter in Middle America and the Caribbean breeding and raising their young in Central and Northeast  U.S. and North into Canada. The Ovenbird has an amazing call for such a small bird: Ovenbird's Call  What a treat being able to not only see but scoring a few photos of one of my very favorite warblers!   ***A Reminder...Great Backyard Bird Count
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