The Vermilion Flycatcher is numerous across the southwestern United States. Can be seen in a variety of elevation

Winter along Texas coast, and all year along extreme southern parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Summer and nesting are seen further north in same states.

The vermilion flycatcher is numerous along wooded stream edges and on agricultural lands near water. This flycatcher often drops to the ground to feed, but quickly returns to a low perch that it regularly occupies.

Adult male is bright red on head and under parts. Tail, upper parts and wings are black. Black bar from back around eyes and above bill.

First and second year males are slightly paler and more yellowish than adult. Female and immature are whitish below with light streaking, grayish brown above, usually with a distinct face mask.

Belly and undertail coverts are variable: females vary from yellowish to salmon pink; immature males are brighter pink; and juveniles can show no color.

Sleep late this morning after the late night, then rise, dress, and walk in to the w-mart for coffee, com and computer. I prepare for the meeting today and at nine, I pack out to the jammer, change into my meeting clothes and drive to the hall for the weekend meeting and a study about how Jehovah requires exclusive devotion.

After the meeting, I get into the jammer, put in the coordinates for Falcon State Park and drive the two hours it takes to get there. I arrive in the mid afternoon, check in for the night and ask for site number 69 telling the ranger, that is how old I am. I then drive to the shower house and get into the very hot water just soaking for a long time. Next, I drive to the campsite, set up and begin cleaning up the jammer while supper cooks on my Cook Potcamp stove. When I finish cooking, I put the cook pot inside the jammer on the floor in the back, close up all the doors and walk three campsites north of me to say hello to a fellow camper. His name is Donald, he is from Kansas and has been on the road for a couple of months camping in a tent, visiting parks and taking photos.

Awake, dress, drive to the w-mart for coffee, com and a short period of pounding keys to await for the sun to rise for my upcoming drive to the Langford hot springs.

When I leave Lantry, I continue west on US 90 through the long desert stretch and then stop in Marathon, Texas where I gas up, and buy some vegetables at the French market. After that, I turn south on US 385 and drive another desert stretch, I arrive in the park but it is already after five pm and both the entrance both and visitors center are closed so I can not stop for a bumper sticker. So, instead, I drive up to the Chisos Basin and park in the lodge parking lot.

I get out my camera and get ready for the sunset, but I notice a peculiar bird about six inches that is flitting around the parking area so I begin taking photos of the bird and trying to id it in my book. It is not until later when I go into a visitors center that a volunteer tells me right away that it is a Vermilion Flycatcher.

Only once before have I ever been able to get a photo of this red bird, but even then, I was not able to get a photo as clear as this one is.