I had a few hours to kill so I headed out to wet a line. At the first pool I was greeted by several rising trout. They were stuffing themselves on an unknown insect that kept me on my toes for the first twenty minutes or so. Then after surveying the hatches and burning through a few different patterns I nailed it with a #16 PMD Haystack. It was confusing as there were the PMDs, Little Yellow Sallies, Blue Wing Olives and the Green Drakes. Oh, and a few tiny Black Caddis too. While I was putting the steel to rainbows to a dozen inches I realized that it wasn't only the trout chowing down. In the overhead crease to the sky through the pines was a blur of birds nailing every mayfly they could get. It was so crowded I was actually witness
to a pair of Western Tanagers fighting over the Green Drakes that started to hatch on top of the PMDs. This was a riot. I stopped fishing to watch the birds. What a show. Mid air attacks with the prize to the winner. Attached is the brute who won most of the midair conflicts. He ate so many flies it's a wonder he could still get off of the ground. Check out the Green Drake trophy in it's beak. It was fun to watch.
Mark
Getting to know and enjoy birds has added a lot of enjoyment to my fishing. Those Western Tanagers are beautiful birds. You were very fortunate to witness that show!
I've seen a merganser hooked on a sculpin, but a Tanager on a green drake? and while in the air, well that would be something. Excellent photos mark I love seeing those birds!
Leave it as it is. The ages have been at work on it and man can only mar it. T.R.
Oh Man! Your day was what fly fishermen live for, and only get every once in a loooong while. Glad you had yours when you did. With this covid-19 pandemic, I am still looking for a day like that this year. At least you didn't have 30 other fishermen crowding you like it has been lately in New Mexico. The Forest Service has closed all the Campgrounds and a few other areas, and the remainder that is open has so many fishermen that it is getting beat to death! Makes you just want to sit down and bawl!
Check out the Green Drake trophy in it's beak. 
