Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

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The next batch of photos will go into the world of small songbirds. These little bursts of energy tease you with their flashes of color and beautiful songs as they stay mostly out of sight hidden in the trees. They know when you are there and may come check you out but it will not be for more than a moment and then you may not see them again only to be teased and hear their calls knowing you can't grab their photo.

Seeing them is one thing and special enough (this was my first for this breed). Getting a good photo is pure joy. They are never close and almost always in the shadows. Long lenses, low light, and fast birds make them one of the most challenging subjects I've ever shot. My photography mentor in Waco invited me to go shoot with him about a month ago at Meridian State Park. I have to have a crazy-bad conflict to turn him down. He knows the locations and techniques to photograph these critters. We didn't see a lot of birds but we saw quality birds.

This male blue-gray gnatcatcher was checking us out as we sat in his territory. You can see just a glimpse of the dark V on top of his head that is characteristic of a breeding male (will get darker). This bird is between a hummingbird and small wren in size with a powerful voice.

Thanks,

Doug White