I have to say that I was thrilled to photograph this Eastern Phoebe with prey last month while I was visiting Arkansas and Sequoyah NWR in northeast Oklahoma. The prey the phoebe had in its bill was for its chicks that were in a nearby nest.
Adult Eastern Phoebe with food for its chicks – Canon R7, f11, 1/1000, ISO 800, -10.3 EV, Canon RF 800 mm, natural light
I did take a few images of the phoebe’s nest that was under the eaves of the refuge headquarters building, but they turned out dark and awful. I could see the hungry chicks inside the mossy nest, and that tickled me.
I hadn’t seen, heard, or photographed an Eastern Phoebe in about fourteen years. It was thrilling to encounter this species again, specifically in Oklahoma and at the home of my dear friend Steve Creek in Arkansas.
I took more photos of Eastern Phoebes at the refuge, but I haven’t processed those images yet. I will be adding those photos and this one to a Eastern Phoebe photo gallery soon. Maybe even today.
Seeing eastern birds again was a wonderful experience for me. I truly appreciate that Steve was so generous in showing me his favorite locations for photographing them while I was with him. He knows those areas like the back of his hand.
Steve and I have known each other for years. We connected because of our love for nature and wildlife when we both wrote articles for the same online blog about birds, which is now defunct. Steve and I met in person when he first traveled to Utah to photograph the birds and wildlife here. It was very gracious of Steve to host my visit when I needed time to recover, recuperate, and rest up after my emotionally and physically draining trip to Virginia before my mother died. Thanks again, Creek.
I have some of the best friends in the world.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my tyrant flycatcher photos.
Hi Mia!
This beautiful bird has that orange gape that I’m learning to associate with a young bird. Could this be a young “helper”, not the parent?
Sue
Hey Mia! We do go way back, and I cherish the bond we formed through our shared passion for nature and wildlife. Those days writing articles for the bird blog were truly special.
I remember when I visited Utah to capture the beauty of its birds and wildlife. You were there to show me around, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. Your knowledge of the area and the wildlife made the experience even more incredible.
I’m glad I could be there for you during that challenging time after your trip to Virginia. It was important for you to have a space to recover and find solace. We all need time to heal, both emotionally and physically.
You’re welcome, Mia. You’re an amazing friend, and I’m grateful to have you in my life. We truly have some of the best friends anyone could ask for. Take care, and let’s plan another nature adventure soon!
Phoebes are such delightful birds. We have lots of Black Phoebes around here and I love watching their antics. They’re pretty relaxed around humans and will come in fairly close even if I’m sitting in the backyard.
So nice to meet this bird for the first time.-Jeri