One of the most common of our native warblers, the Northern Parulas arrive back here in early - mid May. Here are photos of two different males and a female all shot in the same general area, the second male a day or two later. The males are a little more striking with their prominent breast band and rusty flanks. You can notice the variation here in their coloration. They seem particularly attracted to apple trees which is where all three of these were photographed.
Just after the hummingbirds returned to Nova Scotia and before the females arrived this bird had claimed the feeder but it wasn't to last. The females have since taken over.
I had an Indigo bunting coming to my bird feeder for about 3 days in May. It is the first time that I've ever had one here and one of the reasons I continue to feed the birds every year until the end of May. If you're ever going to get something unusual it will likely be during the height of Spring migration.
I often associate Purple Finches with Red Maples since they tend to show up each Spring around the time the maple buds are beginning to open. The males as well are a similar colour to the maple buds and the seeds that are just forming. So I guess it's appropriate that I was able to photograph them on Red Maple branches.
