The Black Phoebe often sits on our 'Shasta' driftwood, preening and looking all the while for prey. When it sees an insect fly by, or struggling on the water surface, it flies off to catch it mid-air or skim it from the water surface.
Above it has just taken an insect
from the water surface. We used this picture and 'embossed' it to create the
background for the "wildlife Sightings" page. Phoebes are always associated
with water. If you provide a nesting ledge under your eves in a quiet,
protected site, you'll probably be rewarded with their building a mud
cup-shaped nest. Soon there will be 3-5 young who I SWEAR say, "Feed me, feed me!"
If you'd like to learn more about Phoebes you might enjoy reading my "Critters in your Pond"article on Phoebes that was first printed in the March 1997 IPS (Internet Pond Society) On-line magazine.