Some of the staff is heading back out into the field this week – needless to say to warmer temperatures for sure. Apparently we are in the midst of a third Polar Vortex for the year and we are feeling the effects of NOT getting our cold acclamation cycles in. IT IS COLD! At a minimum, the normal training runs would at least get my butt outside before and after our Texas migration. The ankle has put a stop to that silliness. This is officially the longest I have gone without a run since I started this hobby some 25+ years ago. A few more weeks until my next surgeon follow-up and then hopefully start rebuilding – wish Linda luck as all this pent up energy is driving her nuts (she says I’ve taken to pacing like a caged animal and constantly telling me to STOP IT – link here). Something tells me today’s featured feathered friend would have something to “Say” about it as well!
Hit the jump to learn more about this rather annoyed looking bird!
What says you Say’s?
“Stop whining” (link here)… “and find something to do” (link here).
Hahahaha, apparently today’s specimen has been listening to Linda!
I am not sure if it was more annoyed by me being there or the fact the male Vermilion Flycatcher in the previous post was showing off its more brilliant feathering (link here). Apologies as I had to bring the brilliance down a bit from that last post. Although the Say’s Phoebe does sport some nice coloring, it is nowhere the torch level of their kin.
With all the focus on the Vermilion, I almost completely missed the presence of this Say’s Phoebe. While staying in Tucson, AZ last January, Linda noticed that there were Brewer’s Blackbirds hanging out an RV resort southeast of the city (link here). For a bird that basically hangs out in more than 3/4s of the US you wouldn’t think that would get me very excited, but what the Cornell region maps apparently do not show are all the white dots of no-go zones that perfectly align with wherever I happen to be. It is a bit embarrassing when asked what I am looking for when I show up at a birding hotspot and have to admit, “well a blackbird with yellow eyes”. I think this Say’s just laughed at me as well.
Luckily, I was able to get the Brewer’s checked off rather quickly. There is a golf course attached to this Voyager RV resort that had a large flock of the Brewer’s grazing in the tee box. With that out of the way I could focus on the more interesting feathered locals. Additional details on this particular site if you have not been there before. Basically you are birding from the road as there is a chain link fence around the golf course. This still gives you a good view of their pond and of a fairway that runs the full length of the dead end road you can bird from. I also found the trees across the street and the clump at the end of the road were quite productive as well. Although that road does not get a lot of use, there is a definite danger of getting conked on the head by an errant drive – before you ask, Brad, you do NOT get hazard pay if we send you out there ha!
There is something about that fence that is a Flycatcher magnet. Per the previous post, you are already aware the Vermilion was hanging out on it. Probably a good perch to put an eye on any insects hanging out around the pond. This Say’s Phoebe was spotted down a bit from the Vermilion with a steely gaze in that direction. As FCs do, every once in a while, it would launch off the fence or hop down to the gravel in front and nab a trophy insect.
My favorite shots came while it was on the ground as that green tone of the fairway was muting the Say’s peachy colors – finally gave up trying to provide any more separation for that first set of shots. The tan gravel/sand feels a lot more complementary of their belly and undertail coloring. Let me know if you concur in the comments for future image treatment options.
The Say’s Phoebe is actually a staple for our Texas trips. One can always be counted on to be hanging out at the Progresso Sod Farm – well, make that “former” Progresso Sod Farm in Weslaco, TX. It is now a subdivision that has been slow to take hold providing plenty of empty lots and pastures for birding – the Burrowing Owl hangs out there. For the last 4 or so years (at least) we’ve made the trip over there and successfully tinned the Say’s for the year. I was not expecting just how abundant these Flycatchers were in Arizona – seemed like they were everywhere! You do need to double check that they have a brown/grey chest and not white, as they can easily be mistaken for female Vermilion Flycatchers on first look. Note, Say’s are much larger than Vermilions coming in around 6.7 inches long versus the latter 5 or so inches.
Out of pictures, need to close this out and get you on your way. In appreciation for stopping by, how about a few takeaways on our peachy species. Probably been asking yourself how the name came to be (me too). According to Cornell, Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew named it after Thomas Say who first encountered the bird back in 1819 at a place called Cañon City, CO. It is likely Thomas’ more noted work that led him to this Flycatcher as he is considered the “father of American entomology” – I can imagine he wasn’t too pleased with this bird munching up all his insect specimens, ha. Lastly, this FC breeds farther norther than the rest of its family. The Cornell region maps states its breeding range extends all the way to the arctic tundra.
A fitting wrap as it feels like the arctic tundra out my window right now. Take care everyone and hope you enjoyed the shots of this non-sympathy giving Flycatcher!
Wildlife Intrigued 
How many flies does a flycatcher catch when a flycatcher is catching flies? I love to watch them fly out, catch whatever flying insects they snatch, fly back, whack them on their perches if they’re still kicking. They have a lot of nervous energy, but they do not show much fear at a photographer pointing bazooka-length lenses at them.
Not another Polar Vortex! That’s as bad, if not worse, than The Spanish Inquisition. It sounds like you have been tortured by the treacherous “Comfy Chair” (https://youtu.be/nr5nFfWIqhQ) with your bad ankle.
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The Flies being caught say too many Flies are being caught by the Flycatcher. I find everything needs a good whack in their life both receiving and giving to so everyone can remain grounded – the amount of mentally broke people at the moment is shocking. Hahahaha, I have to say, I have never seen that MPFC skit before – hilarious. We must have more comfy chair tortures while eating cake, so it has been declared, so shall it be hehehe. Not often someone comes up with a Python link I haven’t seen, all Intrigued employees are annually required to show competence in all things Python.
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All things Python is the way to be. So many brokeys among the the wokeys.
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Linda respectably disagrees ha. I can’t believe the number of people that are completely broken at the moment. Life isn’t easy, if these little things take you out…you are in for some experiences in the future.
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I’ve had to deal with a lot of shit, both literally and figuratively, all my life, that it’s not worth the energy to get worked up over stupid things that bug. I’m sure you’ve been there and done that, too.
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I hear ya. Hard to remember though when the country was this degree of polar. Critical thought is basically gone and the never ending faux outrage is ridiculous. Guessing this is simply the new norm from here on out.
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This bird has a cool, cocky look! “Who you lookin’ at?” I like the attitude.
Very nice pics! I find that I lean more toward the subtler shading in birds, like the female Cardinal over the male. It’s hard to capture that in photos, but you did a great job!
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There is an unmistakable beauty in the more subdued colorings often worn by the females. I think the color accents here and there just add a nice flair versus being absolutely overwhelmed by the likes of the Cardinal and Vermilion males. I also find it easier to work in the digital darkroom with the females, working on these males to not blow them out blend them into the background is a pain. Thanks for dropping in!
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This bird’s subtle colors would be washed out by a colorful background, that’s true. But I find the best way to highlight a subtle color is to back it with an opposite subtle color. In this case, the great bokeh green and brown background of the far field is the perfect foil, and highlights the Say’s peachy underside wonderfully. Your two photos underneath “torch level” and above “flycatcher magnet” are prime examples.
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Thanks for the perspective Sam, always appreciate a the opinions of camera savvy readers. I just took a tutorial on the Lightroom smart masks and now excited to try them out, especially the mask interception options and the mask creation by color saturation/brightness etc. I do a lot of work on area specific tweaking in the digital darkroom, but it was always a pain to paint the background or sky masks, so I could apply operations on those elements without impacting the subject. If I was to process these again, I’d smooth out that background a touch more and sharpen the bird slightly to help draw it out. Those pictures you pointed out are definitely growing on me as I continue to look at them. Always an adventure which is what makes this hobby so fun. Appreciate you coming by!
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I was just going to ask about the Intrigued classes on Smart Masks. Did I miss the sign up?
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We can discuss at the interim performance review – it falls under the fun self-directed learning category vs those mandatory legal compliance, keep management out of jail education course which are rightfully hated by all staff hehehe.
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Ah, so the 80 hours of on my own training is where this belongs.
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That is affirmative although we have upped that to 80.5 hours for this current year as a stretch goal. Another viewing of the Big Year would cut into a bunch of that requirement ha!
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Regular or Extended edition? I don’t want to have “too much” education this year.
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Extended of course!
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Gorgeous captures! That peachy belly is just peachy! I have actually seen and photographed this bird locally in Maryland.😲 Back in April 2023, a state WMA staff spotted a Say’s sitting on a barbed wire fence (what phoebe doesn’t like a good fence, ha!), putting out an ebird rare alert. Only 12 miles from me, but it took me three visits to see it. It was finicky in it’s showing times, and stayed a couple weeks before totally disappearing.
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Thank you Donna, appreciate the kind words. That Say’s you found was definitely way out of its standard zone (I did check out the sightings map and that does show additional splatter of sightings in your area in the last 5 years). Well worth the effort to get that in the tin and yes.. FCs always look god on a fence ha! Appreciate the drop in and feel free to send some of those many Scoters out our way.
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Beautiful pictures!
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Thank you Barbara! The good thing about Flycatchers is they tend to give you a decent amount of time to get your settings dialed in which is always appreciated ha. Appreciate you coming by and have a great rest of your week.
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Brian, what a pretty bird! I don’t think I have ever seen a phoebe. ❤️
I did discover a vireo in our neighborhood recently, but not at the feeder. When I did a little research, I understood why…they are insect eaters, and I am too cheap to buy mealworms.🤣
I have also seen and heard some mockingbirds, birds we had enjoyed at our old house and had missed. Maybe we do have enough insects around here! 😄
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I suspect at least during the non breeding months you might have at least been in the presence of an Eastern Phoebe – they tend to be pretty quiet when not trying to impress the ladies, but they are pretty ubiquitous out your way. Not as pretty as the Say’s but kind of dapper in their own right. Unfortunately, this more ornate variety is less likely to visit your great state. Vireos like their friends the Warblers prefer market fresh food and I’m with you on not buying the mealworms – I like to encourage our feathered friends to eat as many of the insect population out here they can ha. The Mocks are a finicky lot – feast or famine I like to say. Give it time, I am sure any downturn in crawly things is temporary and that always draws in the patrons so to speak. Take care, have a great rest of your week and keep your eyes out for little birds snatching insects out of the air.
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Thank you for the information, Brian. I will keep an eye out! 😄
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What a lovely bird!!
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It doesn’t have the “look at me” plumage of the Vermilion in the previous post, but the subtle coloring on the Say’s does have a debonair feel to it – sophisticated, laid back, love me for who I am mentality. Thanks for coming by!
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Beautiful! Wonderful shot
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Thank you Priti, appreciate the kind words. This specimen was kind enough to let me have plenty of time clicking away at it and enjoyed every moment of it. Take care and have a wonderful rest of the week.
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Go on 💪 with your passion 😄
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Very cute little bird. Really like the tail flair photo.
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I think it was trying out its insect flushing routine on me to see if it could get me to move along and let him get back to its day.
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