I think the indigo bunting was my favorite bird of the day. Last spring I could not get a decent picture of him. When I first got the woods I saw a flash of blue and didn’t see him again for a while. Later, while standing in front of the fountain talking to some other birders, he landed right on the base of the fountain. He bounced around for at least 10 minutes from branch to fountain.
I totally blew this shot out. I had been taking pictures of birds deep in the bushes early in the morning and had my ISO too high. When I drove over to the other section of woods, as soon as I got out of the car I saw the scarlet tanager in the tree and immediately started snapping. Then I realized he was in full sun and I hadn’t lowered my ISO. A second later he flew off. So the shot overall is too bright but I’m just glad I got him.
This one I took right into the sun and then had to blow out to get the details. I think this is another scarlet tanager but we had heard there were summers around and I was hoping it was a summer instead. I can’t really see his wings in this picture to tell. Any experts have an opinion?
Later in the morning, when I came back to the mulberry bushes, they were full of orchard orioles. I only saw males while I was there. They were all busy eating the berries.
Another one with berries pieces in his beak.
Not a good picture but it was the only one I got of an american redstart.
Is this a gray kingbird or an eastern kingbird? People were calling it both. All About Birds does not even show a gray kingbird in their list, only the eastern. He was flying back and forth between the mulberry bushes with some lunch left on his beak.
My first red eyed vireo.
I thought this was a red eyed vireo at first. I’m thinking it’s the same bird as the picture before it and that I just couldn’t see it’s red eye. It also looks like a female redstart.
The very common gray catbird. The mulberry bushes were full of them. This one had red all over his face from eating the berries. What a feast.
The mulberry bushes at the trails have signs posted saying “Do not pick the fruit.” Just in case a tourist wanted to have a snack and wipe out an entire bush. The birds migrating through in spring count on these bushes for fuel to get them home up north. They are exhausted and hungry when they stop by Fort Desoto for a rest. The bushes were full of birds in early April. They were all busy eating and most birds had a little berry juice stained on their beaks and faces. Most of these pictures were taken standing in front of the big mulberry bushes or at the water fountain so I didn’t have to travel far. Just stand in one place and have patience (which I don’t have a lot of).
Check out more birds at Paying Ready Attention for 
What a beautiful, colorful group!
what a great variety!
You really got a nice variety! There are reports of the summer tanager arriving in our parts. Cannot wait.
Awesome photos, great colours!
Well done!
I am so envious! We are seeing few to no migrant orioles, tanagers or warblers. Plenty of catbirds, but no mulberry juice.
A plethora of wonderful shots!
The bunting is a beautiful capture and the oriole with seeds is another favorite.
Lovely captures all around.
A terrific series! Love that bunting.
Those birds are glorious! Photos are so colorful!
Gorgeous shots! Loved them all!
You mean to tell me that these birds migrate to Florida … I thought they migrated here from Florida 🙂 I too love the Indigo Bunting and I am still waiting for the wonderful opportunity you just had … could be a long wait. All of your bird pictures are beautiful … all birds that I see only occassionally, and would love to get good close ups of like yours. Great job Dina …
WOW!!!what a series…I really envy you getting to see and captured these beautiful birds…my favourite is the Indigo Bunting.Have a great day!
Shantana
A great series of beautiful birds but the Indigo Bunting is my favorite.
What beautiful, colorful birds! I love them all.
Terrific group! Beautiful shot of the indigo!
Great collection of birds, Dina! The Indigo Bunting is a gorgeous bird. Loved the photos.
…rainbow indeed. Such wonderful colors, and great array of so many different migratory birds!!!
The indigo bunting is my favorite, too. Gorgeous color.
Wonderful series of photos! Great shot of the Indigo… The only one I have taken of an Indigo Bunting is blurry, but at least I have it 🙂
These are wonderful! I love the shots of the orioles and others) eating the mulberries. But the buntings are so remarkable.