Blue, the Cerulean variety!

Although not rare, the numbers of Cerulean Warblers seem to be decreasing in New York.
Here in the Upstate area I get the chance to see them about once every two or three years.
I know of a few select locations that hold small populations of them.
I am always happy to photograph them and enjoy sharing images with family and friends.

Cerulean Warbler:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.shawnkrausp​hoto.com …757990&k=DsR8DP​w&lb=1&s=A

IMAGE LINK: http://www.shawnkrausp​hoto.com …758195&k=H3BWfD​L&lb=1&s=A

Beautiful bird, and excellent photos. I see them every spring in Northern Virginia - through binoculars - and rarely get to see much blue in the males, they usually look very dark. Thanks for confirming that they are in fact a lovely shade of blue!

very nice, i grew up in upstate NY (outside Cooperstown) and don't recall ever seeing one of these

Good for you Shawn! Were you out at Savannah?

coopert wrote in post #14510953
Beautiful bird, and excellent photos. I see them every spring in Northern Virginia - through binoculars - and rarely get to see much blue in the males, they usually look very dark. Thanks for confirming that they are in fact a lovely shade of blue!

Thanks coopert.

rick_reno wrote in post #14511043
very nice, i grew up in upstate NY (outside Cooperstown) and don't recall ever seeing one of these

Thanks Rick,
Cooperstown area is beautiful.

Diamond Lil wrote in post #14511240
Good for you Shawn! Were you out at Savannah?

Lil,
I was out to Savannah the other day, but that is not where this bird was located.
There are some on Howland's Island but they are difficult to photograph there.

Great shots, Shawn, of a very pretty little bird I have never seen. Nice to get those rare ones, even though you say they're not rare. They're rare to me!

Pretty little bird, well caught Shawn.

Wonderful shots Shawn, this is another species I've never been fortunate enough to see in person.

Wallace River wrote in post #14511966
Great shots, Shawn, of a very pretty little bird I have never seen. Nice to get those rare ones, even though you say they're not rare. They're rare to me!

They are on the decline, due to the fragmentation of contiguous forest in the breeding grounds (and winter habitat loss as well). Sure, they just need a tall deciduous tree for their nest, and insects for food, but when forests are cut, that provides more access to the nests for cowbirds (which are open area birds), which lay their eggs in the nest when it is unattended, and the cowbird nestlings grow faster and demand more of the food brought to the nest, to the detriment of the real offspring. In New York, the only places with any number of Ceruleans are the Finger Lakes area (esp Montezuma Wildlife refuge) and state parks just northwest of NYC.

rick_reno wrote in post #14511043
very nice, i grew up in upstate NY (outside Cooperstown) and don't recall ever seeing one of these

Nice photos Shawn.
I grew up in Upstate NY also. In a small town named Constantia. its about 30 minutes north of Syracuse.
I dont recall seeing these there, but I wasnt much of a birder then either.

Wallace River wrote in post #14511966
Great shots, Shawn, of a very pretty little bird I have never seen. Nice to get those rare ones, even though you say they're not rare. They're rare to me!

Thanks Ian

Joe52 wrote in post #14512014
Pretty little bird, well caught Shawn.

Thanks Joe

Shar824 wrote in post #14513891
Wonderful shots Shawn, this is another species I've never been fortunate enough to see in person.

Thanks Sharon, I hope you see them in the future.

John Sheehy wrote in post #14514036
They are on the decline, due to the fragmentation of contiguous forest in the breeding grounds (and winter habitat loss as well). Sure, they just need a tall deciduous tree for their nest, and insects for food, but when forests are cut, that provides more access to the nests for cowbirds (which are open area birds), which lay their eggs in the nest when it is unattended, and the cowbird nestlings grow faster and demand more of the food brought to the nest, to the detriment of the real offspring. In New York, the only places with any number of Ceruleans are the Finger Lakes area (esp Montezuma Wildlife refuge) and state parks just northwest of NYC.

Thanks for the fantastic information John, it confirms what I am seeing/experiencing while afield.
It would be extremely sad if these birds were to disappear from NY entirely.

jhayesvw wrote in post #14514412
Nice photos Shawn.
I grew up in Upstate NY also. In a small town named Constantia. its about 30 minutes north of Syracuse.
I dont recall seeing these there, but I wasnt much of a birder then either.

I know Constantia well.
There are some of these not far from there in a small area known as Toad Harbor on Oneida Lake.
As mentioned above, they tend to stick to the treetops in this area as well.
Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Two nice shots of this pretty warbler.