A morning walk at Sunnymede Park gave me a close look at a pair of Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. They were perched on a barbed wire fence in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
One of them soon turned that quiet scene into a feeding moment.
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher With Cricket
I came across the flycatchers on May 12, 2023, at 7:07 a.m. The park was calm, and the fence gave both birds a clear perch.
Scissor-tailed Flycatchers stand out right away. Their long, scissor-like tail feathers are hard to miss. The salmon-pink color on the belly also helps with identification.
One bird had a cricket and was busy eating it. That small detail made the encounter more than a simple perch photo.
These birds are known for catching insects with quick, graceful movements. Seeing one with a cricket fit that behavior well.
For another look at this kind of action, see Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Snaps Up a Cricket in Mid-Air.
Photographing the Cricket Feast in Morning Light
I photographed this scene at Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The bird stayed on the fence long enough for me to make a few images.
My vantage point was simple. I worked with the birds where they perched and tried to keep the cricket visible in the frame.
Camera details:
- Camera: Canon EOS R7
- Lens: Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
- Location: Sunnymede Park, Fort Smith, Arkansas
- Date and time: May 12, 2023, 7:07 a.m.
- Aperture: f/8
- Shutter speed: 1/1600
- ISO: 1250, Auto
- Exposure compensation: +0.7
- Focal length: 500mm
- Support: Handheld
This was a simple wildlife moment, but it had everything I enjoy photographing. There was a clean perch, good behavior, and a bird that already has plenty of character.
The long tail, the fence line, and the cricket all helped tell the story. I left Sunnymede Park grateful for another quiet morning with Arkansas wildlife.