Spring migration has kept me too busy to actually post the photos I've been taking, but here are some of them

Ever since the Yellow-throated Warblers returned, I've been trying to get a photo, but they've always stayed out of photo range even though one male sings along our creek . However, while sitting near the creek trying to observe the Eastern Phoebes nesting the barn, I heard a scolding "chip" and turned around to see him right behind me

4-9-10, male Yellow-throated Warbler by our creek

The male Eastern Phoebe came by also

as well as a male Northern Cardinal

I'd noticed Carolina Chickadees going in and out of the old Bluebird nest box by the barn, and when I turned back around the male was perched the fence in front of me

He then hopped up on the nestbox to feed his mate
{{gwi:1360930}}From April birds

Tuesday on the way to Lexington I stopped by the fish hatchery to check fish pools for migrants. I noticed two immature Bald Eagles circling above the oxbow river loop but before I could react they came straight toward me for a fly-over from the passenger side. I threw myself across the car, fumbling for the camera settings, but only got off one semi-focused shot

4-10-10, Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, 2nd year Bald Eagle

before they did an about-face and started back to the river, feet pointing backwards
{{gwi:1360932}}From April 11, 2010 birds

I could see a small flock of gulls in the distance diving into a fish pool, but every time I drove toward them they immediately flew away to a far corner of the property. While I was sitting there wondering what to do, a 1rst summer Ring-billed Gull appeared, heading right for me.

It swept once around the car, apparently curious,

then joined the other gulls elsewhere.

I noticed a Red-shouldered Hawk crossing the property in the distance
{{gwi:1360935}}From April 11, 2010 birds

and stopped the car to take a photo of a male Red-winged Blackbird on a cattail
{{gwi:1360936}}From April 11, 2010 birds

I was surprised when an American Coot suddenly emerged from behind the reeds
{{gwi:1360937}}From April 11, 2010 birds

It didn't seem to mind the car and even got out to preen
{{gwi:1360939}}From April 11, 2010 birds
{{gwi:1360940}}From April 11, 2010 birds

I could see a small flock of tern-like gulls swarming and diving into the large fish pools near the hatchery entrance and while I was trying to decide what to do, several suddenly skimmed over the fence and swooped once around the car.

4-10-10, Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, 1rst summer Bonaparte's Gull
{{gwi:1360941}}From April 11, 2010 birds

One of them dove onto a fish right by the car but it was too close for my 400mm lens. Then they flew off to relax on an access road

4-10-10, Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, 1rst summer, 1rst winter, and adult Bonaparte's Gulls

Then I went on to Lexington to attend the Keeneland Bluegrass Stakes races with my daughter. The Redbud Trees in her yard were spectacular

The next day DuBois and I hiked up on Warbler Ridge, but didn't see any warblers, although a female Eastern Towhee popped out of the brush to take a look at us

I also saw my first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher of the season

The next time we drove to the fish hatchery, Morehead ornamental Redbud Trees were also blooming

We had just driven onto the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery property when I noticed a Greater Yellowlegs wading in a drained pool

4-12-10
{{gwi:1360950}}From April 11, 2010 birds

It was alone, so I assumed the rest of the shore birds had gone on

4-12-10, Minor Clark Fish Hatchery, Greater Yellowlegs

The flock of Blue-winged Teal we saw last time had flown north, except for one pair. The male was wallowing in an empty fish pool

Across the property from us an Osprey attacked a 2nd year Bald Eagle by the oxbow, forcing it to land, then a pair of adult Bald Eagles appeared and ran off the Osprey. By the time we arrived all had dispersed and a large carp with large puncture wounds lay gasping on the access road. Ten minutes later the 2nd year Bald Eagle burst over the tree tops above us pursued by the Osprey and again landed, on the far side of the oxbow.

We paused by a display tank to see one of the rare American Paddlefish being bred at the hatchery

Afterward we drove to Shallow Flats by Cave Run Lake where we saw a pair of Brown Thrashers digging in the leaves
{{gwi:1360958}}From April 11, 2010 birds

then we wound up Forest Road 16 toward Lockegee Rock, the highest point in three counties

On the way, I heard a Black and White Warbler singing, so got out to take photos
{{gwi:1360960}}From April 11, 2010 birds
{{gwi:1360962}}From April 11, 2010 birds

We parked at the trail head and hiked up the trail through a sea of Redbud Tree flowers
{{gwi:1360963}}From April 11, 2010 birds

until we reached the base of the rock

We pulled ourselves up the nearly vertical trail to the top, using handholds in the rock. I was sitting by the edge when a tiny bird shot up over the cliff and began foraging through the nearby brush, ignoring me

4-12-10, top of Lockegee Rock, 1rst year female Blackburnian Warbler
{{gwi:1360729}}From April 11, 2010 birds

A male Fence Lizard rested on a pine root

No more migrants appeared, but the view of the Redbud trees from the top of the rock was spectacular

The next day I saw a Northern Watersnake hunting frogs at our pond

The day after that I heard a Scarlet Tanager singing in the woods on top of our mountain. I staked out his territory from last year

4-14-10, Overstreet Ridge, near our pond, male Scarlet Tanager snagging moth
{{gwi:1360971}}From April 11, 2010 birds

His meal looked almost too big for him!
{{gwi:1360973}}From April 11, 2010 birds

but he got it to go down, leaving a moth wing dust mustache
{{gwi:1360975}}From April 11, 2010 birds

Quite a beauty, despite the shadowy woods

His territorial song sounds "like a Robin on steroids."
{{gwi:1360976}}From April 11, 2010 birds

A couple of days later I heard a Red-eyed Vireo back in the woods, and soon glimpsed him high overhead

4-16-10, Overstreet Ridge
{{gwi:1360977}}From April 11, 2010 birds