Stephen > In this photo, one can see the irrigation canal into which the vermilion flycatcher was diving to grab its prey.  I was lucky in that it decided to perch a bit on this small, short stick so I was able to include the canal.  Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
Stephen > It was a dreary day, but the sighting of this vermilion flycatcher sure brightened my day!  Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
Stephen > It was extremely windy, overcast and cold the day I visited the Fennessey Ranch but this vermilion flycatcher made the day worthwhile.  I had noticed that the vermilion flycatchers in this part of the ranch had a certain routine using different branches from which they dove in on insects that were in an irrigation canal.  This branch was but one that the vermilions like to use.  I was using a parked truck as a blind.  Fennessey Ranch, near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
Stephen > The ranch foreman at the Fennessey Ranch mentioned to me that he often sees vermilion flycatchers in a certain part of the ranch.  Since the predator blind was slow, I decided to head over to the location.  There were no blinds so if I were to photograph this guy, it would be done the old fashioned way, sort of.  :-)   The foreman had lent me his truck and I basically drove the truck up and down a small trail where the vermilions were supposed to be.  After thirty minutes or so, I found them in the distance.  The truck moving back and forth on the trail seemed to spook them so I decided to stop near a branch that both frequented.  In fact, in watching them, I could tell that both had a sort of routine flying from the perch to the ground snatching insects from an irrigation canal and then returning to certain branches.  I parked near one of the branches and waited.  Sure enough, without all the movement, within twenty minutes, the vermilions began to ignore me and just hunt.  This picture is one of the results from staking out this branch.  The light was low, but still worth the time put in.  Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
Stephen > Another vermilion flycatcher hanging out by the pond near the entrance center to Aransas NWR, November 2007.
Stephen > This is one of two vermilion flycatchers I was able to photograph at the Aransas Wildlife National Refuge.  Near Austwell, Texas, November, 2007.
Stephen > Looking head-on at a Vermilion Flycatcher that was very active catching insects above a small pond at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Austwell, Texas.  November 2007.
In this photo, one can see the irrigation canal into which the vermilion flycatcher was diving to grab its prey. I was lucky in that it decided to perch a bit on this small, short stick so I was able to include the canal. Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
Stephen > In this photo, one can see the irrigation canal into which the vermilion flycatcher was diving to grab its prey.  I was lucky in that it decided to perch a bit on this small, short stick so I was able to include the canal.  Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
In this photo, one can see the irrigation canal into which the vermilion flycatcher was diving to grab its prey. I was lucky in that it decided to perch a bit on this small, short stick so I was able to include the canal. Fennessey Ranch near Bayside, Texas, December 2008
See photo in gallery

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