Best Life Birding

06/01/2026

One of my favorite springtime arrivals is the Prothonotary Warbler.
Not only are they flat out gorgeous, but they’re among the most friendly birds out there!
This encounter was a great example of that as the bird appeared to be quite curious of my presence in the woods, often flying in close to get a better look at me lol!

Prothonotary’s are usually spotted in moist habitats like swamps, bogs and marshes. They can also be seen in the brush and hardwood trees alongside streams, ponds and lakes.
These lovely feathered gems show up in Kentucky during spring migration in early May.
The males arrive first to establish their breeding territory’s and begin scoping out prime nesting sites.
As cavity nesters (one of only two species of Warbler that do this) Prothonotarys raise their young in unused Woodpecker nests or in other holes in trees.
The male bird will start the process by building several starter nests in different locations to expand his territory and provide optional choices for his future mate.
When the females arrive, the male will show the her his array of nests then allows her to choose the one that suits her needs best.
Once the male wins a mate, the female will take over the rest of the nest construction, adding materials such as rootlets, plant down, and other soft grasses and plants to the nest cup.
Eggs will be laid and a few weeks later, the little ones hatch, hungry and eager to leave the nest.
If you’d like to see one for yourself, listen for their calls in the woods of Kentucky from now through late August.

Photos & video by
Sally Wildrick
of
Best Life Birding

on my mighty mirrorless monster, the

05/23/2026

Have you ever wondered how these beautiful birds acquire and maintain their vibrant red hues?
Northern Cardinals get their plumage color from pigments within their food which is called “carotenoids.” The bright red berries produced by the Dogwood tree is one of Cardinal’s favorite foods and these are rich in carotenoids.
These berries are metabolized in the birds digestive system then are sent through the cardinal’s bloodstream to the growing follicles of their feathers.

Although carotenoids do not give feathers that are fully grown extra color, they do provide their new feathers with a shot of color with every molting cycle.
When a cardinal does not get enough food rich in these important carotenoids, the red hues of their feathers dull when they molt. However, once they are able to find the right food again, newer feathers will have the beautiful red hue shining through.
Aren’t they gorgeous?

I spotted this handsome fella and his mate while birding on the slope behind the house.
By my estimation, our farm here in Grayson KY is basically a Cardinal factory because I ended up seeing nearly a dozen of them out there along the trails lol!
Not that it was a surprise, after all Northern Cardinals are one of the most common species of birds found in Kentucky.
And they are popular too!
In fact, these beauties are one of the most beloved birds in the US serving as the official State Bird of 7 states representing Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia respectively.

Springtime is a hectic time of the year for Cardinals as they are busy with the nesting season underway.
A year round resident of KY, look (and listen!) for them foraging in tangled thickets, along the edges of woodlands, and in densely weeded fields across the state.
Of course if you put out a bird feeder you’re likely to be blessed with the sight of these feathered gems in your own backyard as well.

Photos by
Sally Wildrick
of
Best Life Birding

on my mighty mirrorless monster, the

05/22/2026

Found an Eastern Wood-Pewee yesterday while out birding in the new observation blind.
He was quite entertaining to watch as he zipped around the brush.
I felt super lucky that he actually stopped moving for more than 3 seconds which allowed for at least one or two video clips.
Their size makes them a real (fun!) challenge to photograph 🙂

By the fourth week of May, most of these birds will have typically arrived from their wintering grounds in South America—one of the later spring migrants to show up in the region.
They’re settling into breeding territories in the wooded areas, forests, and even some open woodlands or edges common in the Appalachians and eastern parts of the state.

Though they’re tiny birds they are actually kinda easy to find just by listening for their surprisingly loud calls. The males are quite vocal, belting out their classic plaintive “pee-ah-wee” or “pee-wee” song, especially at dawn and dusk. This isn’t just pretty background music—it’s serious territory defense. They hold areas of about 5-20 acres and will chase off other male Pewees and other species of birds quite aggressively.
I watched this fella chase 2 other males away from a wooded spot near the barn so maybe he’s claimed this grove for his own.
I’m hoping he’ll find a mate, build a nest and stick around for a while.
Guess we will see!

Triple W Farm
Grayson, KY

Videos & photos by
Sally Wildrick
of
Best Life Birding

on my mighty mirrorless monster, the

05/19/2026

I see a Yellow-rump and I waaaant to paint it black 🎶

Check out this handsome fella, dressed to the nines in his breeding...

05/19/2026

It’s been a fantastic spring for warbler sightings here at Triple W Farm in Grayson, KY.
I’m looking forward to hitting the trails this summer to lead birding trips where I’ll get to share some more amazing birds with my guests.

Want to join me?
Photographers and birders of all skill levels are invited to come birding with me where we will find all the feathered travelers here in the foothills of the Appalachians.

For availability and detailed tour information, check out the link below

https://bestlifebirding.zenfolio.com/birding-tours-triple-w-farm--grayson-ky

or shoot me a DM and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
See ya out there!

05/17/2026

Nice to get a good look at a Swainson’s Warbler this past week while birding around the Grayson Lake area. This particular bird was engaged in some sort of whatever the avian equivalent of trash talking is with a second one a good distance away. The two called back and forth for two minutes before the little guy in front of me lost interest and moved on.

With their breeding season already underway, male Swainson’s Warblers have been out in force this past week belting out their loud songs. These small birds defend surprisingly large territories too—sometimes up to 45 acres—especially in the patchy suitable habitat of eastern Kentucky’s mountain ravines.
As you can hear in this video they sing a loud, ringing song (often described as a bold, carrying series that stands out in the woods) from favorite perches, sometimes fairly high up (15-20 feet) in small trees.
This is prime time for hearing them, as singing peaks early in the breeding season to hold territory and attract/keep mates.

In the Appalachian region, look for these beautiful birds in forested mountain ravines with a well-developed canopy but especially dense understory—like rhododendron, laurel, or similar thickets. They like moist but not flooded spots with plenty of leaf litter.
Look and listen for these lovely birds from now through September.

Photos & video by of on my mighty mirrorless monster, the R5
Birding Tours & Trips
Best Life Birding
Grayson KY