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Black Phoebe Hawking Insects For Bird Photography Weekly

I took this series of photos yesterday while on an Audubon outing at Rancho Esquon, a private reserve in Durham, California. This Black Phoebe was hawking insects as is their normal behavior. You can see bugs flying all around in the photos.

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  • MaineBirder March 2, 2009, 5:28 am

    Your link for this weeks BPW points to #21, but I found your post for this weeks.

    Nice shots of the Black Phoebe! Would be a new bird for me. We have the Eastern Phoebe here. It is fun watching them hawk insects on the fly

  • Sparverius March 2, 2009, 6:51 am

    Nice clear photos. I love the series of action shots as it pops those little insects right out of the air.

    Sparveriuss last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly

  • Larry March 2, 2009, 7:11 am

    @John thanks for heads up on my posts. I was wondering why I was getting comments on the older post. Duh.

    Yes, I love watching birds hawk insects, especially hummingbirds and swallows

    @Wendy they are so fun to watch. So are your Red-breasted Nuthatches!

  • Bob K March 2, 2009, 9:21 am

    Nice series of shots, Larry! I never tire of watching the Black Phoebes capture those flying insects.

    Bob Ks last blog post.."I have always depended on the kindness of birders." *

  • WisconsinBirder March 2, 2009, 9:51 am

    How cool! Love the last shot with the fanned tail.

    WisconsinBirders last blog post..Owl Cam

  • Mick March 2, 2009, 9:57 am

    Great photos -I think the last one is especially good.

    Micks last blog post..Eastern Yellow Robin

  • Red March 2, 2009, 1:29 pm

    It was a feast for that Phoebe! I love watching them. We have just one resident one that I know of. I hope in the summer it brings lots of friends as we’ll have lots of house flies for it to feast on. The flies are attracted to the dogs and for one of them, like to bite the ears too.

    Reds last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly #27

  • kallen March 2, 2009, 4:09 pm

    Love the shots. The last one is gorgeous!! I love the third one too where it is in flight and I can see the bugs!

    kallens last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly-Sharp Skinned Hawk gets Starling

  • Bird Girl March 2, 2009, 4:58 pm

    You have some very cool captures here – lots of good positions! My favorite bird to capture hunting bugs is the eastern kingbird – I guess because their babies hang around sooo long! Our phoebes seem to get it done fast and furious 😉

    Bird Girls last blog post..Happy March!

  • bevson March 2, 2009, 7:35 pm

    Ah, I see you have fixed it. I popped over earlier and was confused. These are wonderful shots, I have to say I too, like the last one the best.

    bevsons last blog post..Bird Photography Weekly – Sora

  • Larry March 2, 2009, 9:25 pm

    @Tammy thanks for the comment and I love the owl cam!

    @Mick thanks, I like the photo with him stretching too. Beautiful robin you posted!

    @Red I hope you get more Phoebes too and I really enjoy the California Towhee

    @Kim thanks for the kind words. You are making me very jealous with your excellent raptor shots!

    @Bev thanks for the comment. I am even more jealous now after seeing you beautiful Sora photo

  • Natural Moments March 2, 2009, 9:50 pm

    When we were visiting California, I was telling Stacey that one of my favourite land based birds that I was seeing everyday was the black phoebe. I love their vocalizations as well as their fly catching behaviour.

    Natural Momentss last blog post..California Quail in California

  • Amber Coakley March 3, 2009, 6:23 pm

    Hi Larry-nice set of photos! I like the last 3 the best – beautiful bird!

  • Larry March 3, 2009, 10:59 pm

    @Bernie, yes they are fun to watch and hear. Thanks for stopping by

    @Amber thank you very much. I put in some guesses on your ID challenge… fun stuff!

  • Heather March 4, 2009, 5:11 pm

    What great photos of the Phoebe! We have the Eastern Phoebe here in Ohio, and I love watching them hunt on the wing. Hopefully our Phoebe’s will be migrating this way soon! Thanks for stopping by my site!