Yesterday afternoon I drove out to Polk County to a kingbird roost about 1.5 hours from my house. Both Western Kingbirds and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have been regularly reported there over the last few weeks. I arrived around 4:30 and within about 10 minutes or so, the Western Kingbirds started flying in. I counted about 8 of them before a kestrel came by and dispersed them.
As it got close to 5pm, I started to worry that the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers may be perching on a set of wires outside of my field of view, so I started driving around the area, and sure enough, 4 of them were with another group of about 10 Western Kingbirds.
I’m uncertain how many of those kingbirds I’d seen before the kestrel dispersed the first group I saw, but I believe there were at least 12 in all. Pretty easy and fun birding. And I must say, that area of Polk County is quite beautiful.
The first group of Western Kingbirds I saw had the decency to pose in some pretty nice afternoon light,but the Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were perched on wires facing east,and I had to shoot towards the west to get my photos. There’s only one photo that I feel comfortable sharing. But they’re such pretty birds, just watching them was reward enough.
Scott Simmons
Scott Simmons, based in Florida, is a lover of nature, landscape, and wildlife photography. Scott became interested in photography in 2001 when he was given his first SLR camera. When he acquired a telephoto lens, he became progressively more interested in birds and other wildlife. Scott enjoys learning about bird habitats and behavior, striving always to take images that are both beautiful and interpretive. Scott believes photography is a great vehicle to help others to appreciate the wonder for the stuff of earth.
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