Friday, March 30, 2012

Oh Say's Can You See

I fit in (fitted in?) just a pinch of evening birding on Thursday, hoping to see some first of the season Nighthawks. No luck there, but I did get some great views of the perennially visible and beautiful Say's Phoebe. There were actually a pair of the Phoebes, and they were feeling a bit frisky in the dusky light (no photos there out of respect for their private business). The female preferred to stay low to the ground where she was surprisingly well camouflaged among the granitic rocks. This is an aspect of the Phoebe's plumage that had never occurred to me before. Contrarily, the male perched proud and tall atop this creosote bush, surveying his domain and devouring anything with more than four legs.


I've gushed about my affection for evening light before. It does make flight shots (a fun enterprise with flycatchers) very difficult, but also adds a warm soft glow to the photos, a glow that I find to be a very welcome relief from the white-washing Arizona sun.


If I may Say's so, this cinnamon species is the loveliest of Phoebes.

10 comments:

  1. Excellent shots of this bird. This is one of the most DIFFICULT to get on camera. You've got some wonderfully clear pictures here. People love their Phoebes:)

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    1. Thanks Chris. Gotta love the Phoebes! They've got style, they've got swagger, and they're super easy to identify, which cannot be said of too many other flycatchers.
      And of course, when a bird poses for a picture that makes it instantly between 5x and 10x more endearing.

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  2. Say's Phoebes are gorgeous and your images do them justice Laurence. Much better than anything I have been able to take of this species.

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    1. Wow Mia that's quite the compliment thank you. I haven't had much Phoebe photographic luck prior to, though are lots of opportunities. I imagine it has something to do with seeing the Phoebes in a more urban, populated environment where they're not as cautious. Alas, I can't count on any Long-Billed Curlews around here...

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  3. Those are two fantastic shots! I especially love the composition of the first. The hues of the lighting in the background compliment the Phoebe's underparts nicely

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    1. Er hem...you're looking at its underpart!?
      Nah I peep to my heart's content, and I appreciate the compliment. It was a fortunate concatenation of cooperative bird, nice lighting, pleasant perch, and complementary plumage--very cool to have it all come together, as it so rarely does.

      Thanks for stopping by Nicholas. Pleasure as always.

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  4. It is, indeed, a sweet and beautiful bird!

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    1. Very much Kathie, as if the cinnamon coloration on its belly is an extension of its personality too : )

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  5. OMG, what beautiful photos!! Calendar page worthy....for all the world to see!! Great job!

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    1. Wow thanks KaHolly! That's quite a compliment. I'll need at least 11 more such cooperative birds to do my calendar. In the mean time I'm very glad and grateful to have such kind viewers as yourself stop by and share.

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