Small Life Revealed

At sunset, we'll sit where the wood meets pasture.

As the shadow creeps towards us, flying insects show themselves in the sunbeam.

Zooming in, about 200 yards away

They've been here all along!  We just couldn't see them.   So many insects that you wonder how you manage not to inhale some.

The birds that prey on the insects -- flycatchers, kingbirds, woodpeckers -- are breathtaking when their wings are backlit against the shadow.   Like mirrors flashing.

All day long the birds seem to dance by themselves, but in these few minutes you can see both partners.

It's difficult to photograph the birds chasing the bugs, but I'll get lucky...

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The column of flying insects extends upward indefinitely, since at 50 feet cliff swallows are busy trawling the air and violet-green swallows work even at 2000 feet.