Recently, I was having coffee with one of my friends and we were talking about being aware – that many people are not aware of the world around them – they don’t take the time to notice what’s going (often times if it’s not happening on a tiny screen in their hand – they are oblivious). And it made me remember an interesting story – which means that now you all get to read about it.
The Vermilion Flycatcher
When I was younger, as was my son, we spent a lot of time at the park. Whilst I’m not a hardcore birder, many of my friends are, and I love to do casual birding. And I’ve developed an insatiable appetite for birds (seeing not eating). So I taught my son to be on the lookout for birds. The park is an excellent place for this – obviously.
Anyway, we always see the Vermilion Flycatcher at every park we play at. I mean EVERY park – all over Tucson, AZ. It is quite a stunning bird. We have dubbed it our ‘spirit park bird’. So one day we were playing at the park amidst the trees and jungle gyms with a lot of other kids and parents. Dorian looked up and said “Mom – there’s our Vermilion Flycatcher!”.
The gentleman next to use looked up and exclaimed “WOW! What a beautiful bird! Is it rare? I’ve never seen a bird like that before.”
I agreed it was a beautiful bird – but told him I think it’s quite common at this particular park. We see it all the time,
He said he’d never really bothered looking up at the birds before and maybe he should start.
I smiled and agreed.
Sometimes we just need to look up once in a while – with eyes wide and see what there is to see – not what we expect to see. I like that lesson in life.
The Vermilion Flycatcher ~ a most GORGEOUS bird
Photo Credit: http://www.birdfriends.com
This post is for my friend, Ted Schredd – he knows about looking up and being aware.
The Mercenary Researcher 
Brilliant post! So profound, just think of all we are missing by not focusing in on the beautiful details of everyday life 🙂
This post made me happy, thanks for sharing!
Rohan.
Thank you, Rohan.
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Great post!
Spanks!
Is the Flycather related to the Chickadee, at all? They have similar beaks and body style. I love birds. 🙂
I am not 100% sure – but I think not – the flycatchers are their own ‘group’ (probably the wrong way to describe) and chickadees are not part of the flycatcher family. I love the little flycatching dance they do! My favorite bird is the silky flycatcher http://greennature.com/article94.html
I love birds too!
We have a family of woodpeckers that nests in our back yard and they are so fun to watch. My favorites are the chickadee and the titmouse because they are so bold. I’ve had both land on the feeder as I’m holding it.
Birds!
So awesome! I love the titmouse and the nuthatch. Do you know what kind of woodpeckers? We have lots in Arizona – and in Tucson, Gila Woodpeckers. The best~
I’ve never had a bird land even remotely near me – Dorian (my son) had a bird land right next to him when he was about 2 yrs old – I called him Dr. Doolittle for a while after that.
Chickens are hilarious to watch.
It’s a Nuttall’s Woodpecker. We have a lone bachelor, this year, but we had a family last year.
Sweeeet
Those are GORGEOUS. I saw a piliated (sp) woodpecker once…
In AZ?
I think in the mountains in either Arizona or in Raleigh NC.
Going in to this story I thought it was going to be a tale of warning and I was gonna feel like an oblivious woman that needs to carry mace. But it was so happy!!! There is so much truth in the phrase “stop and smell the roses”. Gorgeous bird, happy story– thanks!!!
Don’t mace the birds! Just feed them peanut butter and birdseed.
The gym I (rarely) go to overlooks a bunch of trees. Every morning there are so many colorful birds, the sight is amazing.
Great story.
I bet you have some glorious birds in your part of the world ~ they are so beautiful.
My husband and I are birders. I loved this post. We have traveled to your neck of the woods often because you lots of great birds we don’t get in Wisconsin. I hope the guy you met keeps looking up. Hey we’ve got a gadwall right now in the snow melt pond across the road! Keep your eyes open.
OH HOW BEAUTIFUL! Living is Tucson is pretty special for bird watching. I love to watch birds in ‘typical’ places, like parks and golf courses – so many people not seeing those birds is amazing within itself. My favorite birding experience was in Raleigh, NC – I saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings that stunned me. I feel that way about Red Winged Blackbirds too.
Thanks for reading!
Very good advice… we are often to hurried to really see. We are missing so much in our rush to get places. Thanks for the reminder to keep looking up and being aware.
🙂
I hope it just helps make people more at peace and happy to see something so small yet magnificent – to put perspective in our lives about life all around us.
Thanks for sharing this, Denise. I loved this. What a gorgeous bird. It seems like it would be hard to miss! This is a good reminder for us all.
It is such a magnificent bird, and before I met my birding friends, I too, was blind to the beauty above my head.
I love watching for birds. I particularly love watching for the birds of prey. We have a rescue centre for injured raptors and it is such a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
I loves birds of prey too. Do you volunteer there – do they let people just watch at the center?
Good reminder -thanks. Sometimes we do forget the beauty around us
🙂
I have to admit to having tunnel vision a lot of the time. You’ve inspired me to make an effort to notice the little things. Thanks!
It’s hard to get out of one’s head sometimes ~
What a gorgeous little bird. Love his colouring. Bright and cheery. 🙂
Me too!!
What a fantastic little post.. don’t forget to smell the roses and spot the beautiful birds!
Exactly! Thanks Ted Schredd ~
I am so bad at that–being aware of my surroundings. I get so lost in my own thoughts, I often don’t pay attention. The exception to that is if I’m walking alone to my car in the dark or in an unsafe place. Then I’m hyper-vigilant.
Good story. Something I need to be more mindful about.
When I bike – I can be either hyper vigilant or completely lost in my own thoughts – it just depends on what music is in my ears.
That is indeed beautiful. But I’d be worried about your insatiable appetite for birds, Sylvester.
They are delicious
What if I run into something because I’m looking up instead of watching where I’m going?
Get a seeing eye dog or god.
Ha! Did you just tell me to get God?
I was spelling Dog backwards
Oh, I probably shoulda figured that out.
Yes, I’m agnostic – remember?
Me, too. And no I don’t. I don’t think we’ve had this discussion before.
Oh – sorry! Yes, Agnostic – less effort than Atheist or Believer
Lol, yeah, I guess it is.
Good story. Beautiful bird.
Thank you ~ and it is! Thanks for reading.