Indigo Bunting at Earl Bales

[souci]

I was stunned and excited to see an all-over indigo bird at Earl Bales this morning, down in the valley. I very quickly realized it was the most likely (if not only) possibility, but I have never seen one before, anywhere! Has anyone else caught it? Am I right? I also saw what I thought was a bobolink rising up from the grass to the branches in one of the clearings off the path. Can anyone else confirm that?

[Leslie Kinrys]

Hi, I go to Earl Bales often. It is a great park, especially in May. Yes, there are Indigo Bunting there. I had great views of a singing male, a few weeks back. In a previous year, I saw a female, carrying food to nestlings. I have never seen Boblinks there. They are more a grassland bird. Hope this helps.

[Howieh]

Until a couple of years ago I had only seen indigo buntings in the treetops near the public restrooms in the lower park, but since then I've had great views near the drainage pond beside the golf course. Here's a shot from last year (hope it's okay to post it here?). Other birds to look for near the pond are cedar waxwings and tree swallows and because they perch in the small trees near the pond there are often great photo-ops.

[annie]

Wow, what a great shot! Nice one.

[Howieh]

Thanks Annie. I was lucky to catch a good pose and a clean background but I may have slightly oversharpened it. Weather permitting I'll be there Monday from noon until 2:30pm.

[Howieh]

The great blue heron was sitting in a tree at the south end of the big pond beside the golf course and the indigo bunting was giving great views in one of the small cedar trees at the southwest corner of the same pond.

[gdesmo]

Yes, a little over-sharpened. But still a great shot for sure, love the colour.