Vermilion Flash

Passionate birdwatchers know a secret world of rich colors and melodic sounds. Small birds, such as this Vermilion Flycatcher, are overlooked by most people. But the experience of seeing such a brilliantly hued bird doing aerial acrobatics can be unforgettable.

I photographed this bird in Texas's Big Bend National Park, located in along the Rio Grande River on the Mexican border. I was photographing in a campground along the Rio Grande that had few campers but lots of Javalinas (a native pig), Roadrunners, and a half-a-dozen bright male Vermilion Flycatchers. I spent half a day trying to photograph this individual as it quietly and vigorously chased and caught flying insects. Between sorties it settled briefly on a thin branch, watching for its next prey. I spent all those hot hours trying to get close enough to photograph the tiny creature; this photograph was my most graceful result.

Lee Rentz