How on earth do I get a pic. of a Jay?

[senatore]

I think Jays are great looking birds but can I get near them to get a pic.No way!!!!They seem to be able to detect me staight away and fly off but not to the next tree or field they seem to fly off to the next county.

I've got some great pics of Kingfishers but have got no pics of Jays so can you tell me how you got your shots .Can you post your Jay pics here and say how you got the shot ie.did you hide under a pile of twigs for a few days or do you have another method?.

Max.

[assayer]

Hi, Max!

I've been succesful attracting Jays using a platform feeder with peanuts (whole or shelled), corn, black oil sunflower seeds. They seem to like whole in-shell peanuts the best. I usually position the feeder near (3-8 feet) a bare limb or branch, (that is 12-15 feet from my camera), and that the jays can use as a perch to scope out the feeder before going directly to the feeder.

I prefer to take the picture of the bird on a branch as opposed to the feeder, looks a lot more natural to me.

Below is a picture of a local Blue Jay with about 4 shelled peanuts stuffed in his mouth. Taken while sitting in a lawn chair next to shrubs in backyard. After you get Jays hooked on peanuts, they become a little less wary.

Hope this helps?

Dick

[whomes]

My feelings exactly Senatore!

I see quite a few about, but can't even get close enough to get one in focus!

Looking in the galleries there seems to be very few UK Jays, although postcardcv has a nice pic in there (as b***dy usual).

[postcardcv]

I'm very lucky with jays... last winter we had two come into the garden in November and they were daily visitors through 'til late March. This winter there have been three coming in most days.

They are generally very flighty, and wil often be spooked when one of us stands to close to a window... but on cold mornings it's a whole different matter. If there is frost or snow on the ground they seem far more interested in feeding than worrying about me. So on these days I can nip out first thing and put out some food, I then just sit in the house at an open window and take shots. The biggest problem is the light, it's only on the birds for about an hour in the morning.

So the only advice I have for photographing jays is to pop round to mine for a cuppa on a cold morning! Here's a link to a jay in my garden - it's an uncropped shot, taken with a 500mm lens - http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/124806

[JohnZ]

If you find out Max please pm me and tell me ! I too have had trouble getting a decent shot of Jays. Just to put the tin hat on it I was wandering around Sevenoaks reserve recently and almost trod on one before I saw it ! Needless to say I didn`t get a shot of it because as you previously mentioned it flew to Wales !!

[The Raptor]

I find like everybody else, that the Jay is a very hard bird to photograph, especially in it's woodland habitat. Saw one today, but it flew away before I had any reasonable chance of a pic. I did manage to get one some weeks ago, however not very good, see what you think.

Rod.

[normjackson]

We have some reasonably tame ones around here where there is lots of housing adjecent to woods : mind you, that's not to say they wouldn't scarper the moment you tried pointing a lens at them.
Was reminded of thread end of last year on dpreview where one unfortunate jay ended up as dinner :
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1033&message=20686739

[Macswede]

We've have quite a few Jays where we live and when I first began to photograph them I started by learning where they liked to hang out.

This winter we've placed a peanut feeder in a birch tree at the back of the flat and we get 2-6 Jays there every day. Mostly I just photograph them from the bedrrom window. But maybe that's cheating....;)
Graham

[The Raptor]

We've have quite a few Jays where we live and when I first began to photograph them I started by learning where they liked to hang out.

This winter we've placed a peanut feeder in a birch tree at the back of the flat and we get 2-6 Jays there every day. Mostly I just photograph them from the bedrrom window. But maybe that's cheating....;)
Graham
Excellent photo Graham, certainly not cheating. I have little chance of seeing a Jay in my garden, due to being a long way from any woodlands.

Rod.

[JohnZ]

Not cheating at all Graham. Very nice piccie.

[Macswede]

I'm very lucky with jays... last winter we had two come into the garden in November and they were daily visitors through 'til late March. This winter there have been three coming in most days.
Here's a link to a jay in my garden - it's an uncropped shot, taken with a 500mm lens - http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/124806

It is nice to have the birds coming to you isn't it? Especially after having been reassured that it's not "cheating".
It's when I see photos of this standard that I remember why I want to change to a DSLR setup. Although having seen a lot of your work in the past I doubt if I'd approach your standard even with better equipment.

Graham

[senatore]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.I am pleased to see that I am not alone in having trouble getting a pic. of these great birds.

Great pics (Dammitttt!!!!!) speciallly Postcard and Graham.I am very jealous.

Max.

[Macswede]

Couldn't resist uploading another couple of images. I quite like the first one but it illustrates another problem with photographing Jays - they tend to situate themselves behind a lattice of twigs and branches. The second shot is the wife's and I like it partly because it's a nice habitat shot but also because there are no fewer than 4 Jays in it.

Graham

[Jos Stratford]

I'm a little spoilt with Jays, having them at all my feeding stations - I find them to be rather tame at one site, though still very wary at one of the others.


Posted this shot before somewhere, but do like it. It does happen to be at the site where they are still very cautious, but if I remember I took it out of a slightly opened door of my cabin overlooking the feeders

[mattie]

Just go on my local walk through the wood at the back of my house loads of photo oppertunities untill i take my camera and scope then yep you guessed it no jays to be seen lol

[Adey Baker]

There was a much better crop of acorns this winter (until the wind blew them all away!) compared to last winter so they're more difficult to entice to a feeding-station.

The one below (taken last winter) could be 'called-up' by a lady who put food out every day. The photo was taken with a standard 50mm lens without the use of any camouflage so you can imagine how close I was to it.

So, Max, the general rule is to find a woodland with a regular feeding station, wait for a year with a poor crop of nuts/berries then make sure the birds gradually get used to you as a supplier of food!

[senatore]

Some more great pics everyone.Thanks.

My God Jos tame Jays that must be a contradiction of terms!!!!

Max.

['Card]

I don't know if it would work the same way in the UK, but here in North Carolina the most effective Jay-attractant I've found is compressed corn.

You can buy these things at local hardware and agricultural-supply stores called 'deer blocks'. They're about a foot square, and they're made of compressed corn and molasses. I put several in the woods behind my house during the winter to support the local whitetail deer population, and much to my surprise, the Jays go crazy for them. Brown Thrashers seem to love them too, which I've been really pleased about. Both species are elusive and hard to get good photos of.

[kenp]

Here's my contribution!,,,,,I was lucky enough to get this shot in the early autumn when they were on the acorns!,,,I've tried stalking and creeping up but they are very wary,just a matter of being in the right place at the right time I think!

[Robert L Jarvis]

I have had them in Winter when it is very cold by putting whole peanuts on the ground to attract them.

[Macswede]

I have had them in Winter when it is very cold by putting whole peanuts on the ground to attract them.

Yeah, they're very fond of peanuts.
Graham

[senatore]

Here's my contribution!,,,,,I was lucky enough to get this shot in the early autumn when they were on the acorns!,,,I've tried stalking and creeping up but they are very wary,just a matter of being in the right place at the right time I think!
Great pic Kenp.I am very jealous.

Max.

[senatore]

I have been lucky enough to see 4 Jays in the last 4 days each time with my camera in my hands but each time they have seen me and shot off to the next county.

They could well be my jinx bird.

Max.

[normjackson]

I have been lucky enough to see 4 Jays in the last 4 days each time with my camera in my hands but each time they have seen me and shot off to the next county.

They could well be my jinx bird.

Max.
Is that you in the avatar, Max? Maybe you could try wearing a hat? 8-P

[DOC]

Here is my humble contribution to this thread :

Jays like bread . So why not give them some?
Part1 : Get them to learn that you hang a piece of bread on a tree or other perch . Let them eat it for a few days until they learn . Do not disturb them .

Part 2: Get the perch you want . Position it where you want it and take a few photos just to get the exposure right. Make sure you have the right BG and sun direction . Have your camera ready in the exact location .

Part 3 : Hang the bread on the perch .

Part 4 : Start shooting when the Jay comes . ( it can take a while...)

The following attachments are the examples of what i've written .
( All the photos are Full-Frame ).
The last photo ( on the right ) is the END result.

[Tav94]

I came across this Jay in a wood on Dartmoor got close to it and got this shot.When i went over to the rock were it was i found lots of peanuts in the crack of the rocks.I dont know if the jay had put them there or some one was feeding the Jays in that area,this is the only time i have got near one so it must pay to put food out for them if you can as this bird was very tame.

[senatore]

I came across this Jay in a wood on Dartmoor got close to it and got this shot.When i went over to the rock were it was i found lots of peanuts in the crack of the rocks.I dont know if the jay had put them there or some one was feeding the Jays in that area,this is the only time i have got near one so it must pay to put food out for them if you can as this bird was very tame.
Great pic.

Max.

[senatore]

Is that you in the avatar, Max? Maybe you could try wearing a hat? 8-P
Don't be rude .That's a pic. of my wife.Allright it was taken early in the morning and she could'nt find a comb.

Max.

[senatore]

Here is my humble contribution to this thread :

Jays like bread . So why not give them some?
Part1 : Get them to learn that you hang a piece of bread on a tree or other perch . Let them eat it for a few days until they learn . Do not disturb them .

Part 2: Get the perch you want . Position it where you want it and take a few photos just to get the exposure right. Make sure you have the right BG and sun direction . Have your camera ready in the exact location .

Part 3 : Hang the bread on the perch .

Part 4 : Start shooting when the Jay comes . ( it can take a while...)

The following attachments are the examples of what i've written .
( All the photos are Full-Frame ).
The last photo ( on the right ) is the END result.
Great pics Doc especially nr.4.

Max.

[Colin C]

Max,

For what its worth, the only place I've seen "tame" Jays is the NT site at Formby Point. The Jays and other crows take advantage of all the peanuts being thrown out for the red squirrels. I was digiscoping at the time and couldn't get a picture cos they were too damn close - down to 8 feet on occasion. Fantastic sight nonetheless.

Colin

[Leicaman]

I have had them in Winter when it is very cold by putting whole peanuts on the ground to attract them.

I tried to lure a Jay using peanuts this morning. Although the Jay came quite close I refusd to go onto the sunlit tree stump with the nuts, preferring to stay in the tree above. It wasn't long before a squirrel helped himself to the peanuts while the Jay just sat in the tree.

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/127941

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/127942

[Jos Stratford]

Posted this one on my thread yesterday, but perhaps more appropriate here. With temperatures dipping towards minus 20, the Jays are very keen on the birdtables just now ...put a hide up for this one - though the Jay was not stupid, he knew I was sat in there and kept looking towards me!

[senatore]

Posted this one on my thread yesterday, but perhaps more appropriate here. With temperatures dipping towards minus 20, the Jays are very keen on the birdtables just now ...put a hide up for this one - though the Jay was not stupid, he knew I was sat in there and kept looking towards me!
Very nice pic.

Max.

[tracker]

Max,

For what its worth, the only place I've seen "tame" Jays is the NT site at Formby Point. The Jays and other crows take advantage of all the peanuts being thrown out for the red squirrels. I was digiscoping at the time and couldn't get a picture cos they were too damn close - down to 8 feet on occasion. Fantastic sight nonetheless.

ColinColin, especially during very cold winters are the Jays in Formby very obliging! The light can be at a premium though; but when its right, it can be really magic!

Heres a couple I got during a visit to photograph Red Squirrels:

I think the secret to getting shots of this very elusive bird is to be out and get familiar with areas they use, and maybe (with much patience) be prepared to setup a feeding spot for them. As a side point, for a more natural look to them feeding in your 'zone' mashing up the peanuts not only hides a rather unnatural looking food source in the final image, but also keeps the bird in that spot for that bit longer ( if feeding them whole nuts, they tend to fly in collect and fly out too quickly, being the timid birds they are)

All the best with your mission, Max :t:

[Andy Bright]

I've had a bit of joy in the last week or so with them... regular peanuts near some oaks that they are used to foraging around.

[senatore]

Great pics Andy and Tom.I am afraid they still leave the county when I get anywhere near them.

Max.

[Clarke Robinson]

Hi all

I love these birds, and have been apparently quite lucky as I can get quite close to them. Typically I see lots of great shots of greater spotted woodpeckers on this forum, and have never gotten within 50 feet of one, and i'm not after a picture of a tree with a red dot half way up it lol. Anyway, I thought i'd share a few Jay pics with ya, while wishing I could swap one or two of them for a half-decent closeup of Woody!

P.S. I agree with all the peanut people, they seem to love them, still in their shell especially.

Clarke

[Macswede]

[QUOTE=Clarke Robinson]
I love these birds, and have been apparently quite lucky as I can get quite close to them. /QUOTE]

I can't remember ever seeing better pictures of Jays. Can't imagine matching them but at least I have something to aspire to.:clap:
Graham

[senatore]

Hi all

I love these birds, and have been apparently quite lucky as I can get quite close to them. Typically I see lots of great shots of greater spotted woodpeckers on this forum, and have never gotten within 50 feet of one, and i'm not after a picture of a tree with a red dot half way up it lol. Anyway, I thought i'd share a few Jay pics with ya, while wishing I could swap one or two of them for a half-decent closeup of Woody!

P.S. I agree with all the peanut people, they seem to love them, still in their shell especially.

Clarke
What great pics Clarke.I am very jealous.Mind you I find G/S and just recently L/S Woodpeckers no propblem.

Max.

[Macswede]

Jays are indeed crazy for peanuts... or maybe just crazy!
Graham