Gray Flycatcher eating a Damselfly, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahGray Flycatcher eating a Damselfly – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not a set up

These Gray Flycatcher images were taken in August of 2009 from the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah. Gray Flycatchers are generally found in sagebrush and arid busy habitats so it was a real treat to see this one in the marshy habitat of the refuge.

The Gray Flycatcher moved quickly and it was a challenge to keep track of it let alone get decent images of it as it snatched insects out of the air. In this image the wings of a damselfly can be seen on the far side of its bill and on the near side of the bill the tail of the damselfly is hanging down from the back of the bill.

Gray Flycatcher on a twig, Bear River National Wildlife Refuge, Box Elder County, UtahGray Flycatcher on a twig – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/750, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light, not a set up

The Gray Flycatcher dispatched the damselfly very quickly and stayed on the twig for just a few moments before it flew away again. It was a delight to have the golden tones of the phragmites in the distance which created a lovely background.

I haven’t seen another Gray Flycatcher at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge since the time I photographed this one so maybe it was just migrating through. They are wonderful subjects though and I hope to locate more of them.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Gray Flycatcher photos plus facts and information about this species.