Prolonged periods of sun, along with a prolonged case of shingles, have kept me out of the yard for the past couple of weeks. For whatever reason, I don’t seem to have nearly as many birds in the yard on sunny days and the contrast in light levels makes for challenging, and largely unrewarding, photography.

Nevertheless, on July 15, 2026, I spent some time in the yard. I obtained some nice photos of some of my usual residents, including these Black-capped chickadees.

Chestnut-backed chickadees…

A Brown creeper…

And finally, this unexpected visitor. I was able to track this bird from its entry into the yard to the watercourse. Judging by the yellow at the base of its beak, and non-descriptive plumage, I think this is a juvenile Orange-crowned warbler. It’s the serendipity of such visits that make the hobby of birdwatching so interesting!