Today Ann and I decided to take a drive through Spring Creek Park. We hadn’t been out there in over a week. But, alas, it will have to wait again. Right after we drove into the park, my dashboard beeped. I had an alert saying that I had a tire going down. I got my tire gauge out of the glove box, checked, and sure enough the the right-front tire was leaking.
We turned around and headed home. I then took off to find a place that would make a quick repair, then decided that since the car was due for an oil change, I would have the establishment take care of that plus the tire repair. Unfortunately, it amounted to about an hour and a half wait.
As-throated Flycatcher
So after getting back to the house, going birding didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore as it was getting late. So that brings me to here. I decided to write a post. Not having a birding report for you from Spring Creek Park, I tossed a dart at the computer and decided to show you images of the Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens). That is one species that I don’t remember writing about before. This first (above) photo happens to be one of my peronal favorites. I like how the wide aperture blurred the colorful background to give a great bokeh.
The next photo, below, was taken during a bird-banding session at the Hummer House in Christoval, Texas on March 28, 2008. I am not 100% sure it is an Ash-throated as I am not familiar with the yellowish feathers under the wings behind the head. Maybe one of the banders or another local bird expert will comment to this post, and confirm this for me. Is it possibly a Brown-crested Flycatcher?
Ash-throated Flycatcher
The Ash-throated Flycatcher, along with the Scissor-tailed and the Vermilion, make up some of the most popular flycatches of the Concho Valley. I have shown you many images of those species on other occasions.
As-throated Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
The Ash-throated of the species can be confused with the Brown-crested and Dusky-capped Flycatchers. I hope I have the above photos IDed correctly and if not, maybe someone of more expertise will correctly.
Click on any of the images to see an enlargement. Also feel free to click my Flickr Logo at the right of this page, and have a look at some more of my photographs. Also when you are in San Angelo, check out my long-running gallery exhibit showing in the lobby of the Crockett National Bank, on Bryant Thruway.
Texas Tweeties by Bob Zeller 
Super photos Bob… a joy to look at…as always!!!
Thanks David, I appreciate your kind words. 🙂
Beautiful images – I love the first two especially. The bokeh in your first one creates such lovely soft background colors. And the second, close-up – it shows such awesome details, lots of personality in that portrait 🙂
Thank you so much, Shelly. That first one of my personal favorites. The second one was actually being held in the hand of a bird-bander that I was observing. 🙂
They are so lovely, and you captured them beautifully, especially the first one, I loved so much because of the colours… Thank you Bob, Have a nice and enjoyable new week, with my love, nia
Thank you very much, Nia. You have a nice week, too.
These photos are incredible, Bob! I love clicking to enlarge them. The details are fascinating since I am not familiar with this bird.
Thank you, Karen, for that great compliment. They spend their summers in the southwest part of the U.S. Occasionaly one may appear in the east, but otherwise they spend winters in Mexico.
Gorgeous, Bob. What camera did you take these shots with?
Thanks, Ailsa,
I used a Canon EOS 7D and a Canon 100-400 IS Lens on all except the last one, and on that one I used my 500mm f4 IS lens with a 1.4 tele-converter. Thanks for asking and I am glad you liked the shots.
It’s a very lovely bird…looks a little plucky! And I’m impressed you have a tire gauge in your glove box.
Thank you.
It beats trying to fit a spare tire in there. 🙂
These are great birds and they are native to the U.S. We had them in Arizona. Here is a link if anyone is interested in researching out this bird..http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ash-throated_Flycatcher/id. This is sponsored by Cornell Labs. Bob you have done a simply wonderful job on the photos..
Thank you, Syl for the comment and the informative link. 🙂
Sorry about the car problems, but i’m glad you’ve introduced the Ash Throated Flycatcher. What a pretty bird! I really love that close up. Thanks as always for the photos and the wonderful descriptions!
Thank you very much, Katie.
Pretty birdies! 😀 (I hope that isn’t too simplistic of a comment, but they really are pretty!)
Karen, all comments are welcome here. I thank you. 🙂
We used to have what were, I believe, a type of fly catcher called a Black Phoebe that frequented our gardens in SoCal. The thing I loved about them was that they would take off, and then change flight on a dime to catch their prey! When they did this you could hear a distinct SNAP of their wings. If I am correct about the species being a fly catcher, then my question is:
Do they all change flight so abruptly and make that sound? Thanks, Lynda
Your Black Phoebes, the peewees, kingbirds, are all in the flycatcher type species. I think they all fly in that kind of pattern, because the are after the flying insects. I don’t know about that sound. I haven’t had the opportunity to hear it, though I’d like to.
Thanks, Lynda, for your interesting comment. 🙂
The first photo is so beautiful – for both the bird and for the awesome background colors that are blended so well.
Thanks, Martina, that was one of my favorites, too. 🙂
Once again, very nice captures
Thank you so much, Galen, I appreciate it.
I’ve never seen an Ash-throated Flycatcher — I guess they’re native to the US? They’re sweet little birds and the photographs are lovely!
Thank you very much, Mufidah. Yes, i think that they may be native to US. 🙂
lovely little birds……
Thank you very much, Leellee.
Great photos Bob! The first one of the series is simply perfect!
Thank you, H. J. Sometimes I get one that seems better than the others.