western scrub jay

I was sitting by my feeders today and had the opportunity to photograph these two beautiful birds! I am not quite sure why, but they prefer shelled peanuts to ones still in the shells. My only guess is that they want an immediate and easy food source. I hope they come back! It honestly came out...

This is our local neighborhood Western Scrub Jay. We call him "Bub". He is quite a character, so inquisitive, and so obviously intelligent. He hops around the tree, observing everything (including me) with a curious look and deliberate nature. Such an interesting bird!

not for me. Kind of too bad I zoomed in so close on this one. I can't see what it was that humans were forbidden to do on this trail. I wonder if we were forbidden to sit on the trail signs, for instance. Clearly, this Western scrub jay either had permission or couldn't care less ;)

This youngster was waiting for a turn at the peanut feeder.

It had rained the night before and the trees were still dripping, so I'm guessing this fluffed up Scrub Jay was drying out in the sunshine that morning. Come to think of it, I wonder how wet, or how busy drying off, the birds will be tomorrow. Bright sun is forecast after two days of heavy...

Nearing the end of my California pics now. Nearing the end of my patience with the cable company too. Cable is down so no internet, tv, or landline at home all weekend. Had to hike downtown to check emails last night, and stop at the campus after my woodland hike to do the same this afternoon...

I put the dog food out for the ravens. I'm attempting to get them accustomed to me so I can get better shots of them. But, the jays, as is their nature, will thieve the food. Frustrating part is, is that they won't eat the food, they just hide away and come back for more.

Just another...

All taken in the bay area, ca

Western Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica subsp. texana) Sexes similar. Photographed at Baggett Country, Gatesville, Coryell County, Texas, USA. Edwards Plateau Vegetational Area. Rolling limestone hills with remnant riparians but clear flat areas for livestock grazing at ca. 335 m (1,100 ft)...

Making it's final approach: wings flared to bleed energy (note how the primary feathers are curved from the force of wind) as a braking action. A controlled landing.

This is a composite. There were two images taken of the same bird. One perced, and one as it launched into flight. The two were then merged (composited) into this end composition.

Western Scrub Jay launching from perch.

Just another...

Just another...

Just another...

It has been cold (well, cold for California; day-time high was 36; over-night low was 18), and the birds are forcing food down. I'll give extra portions during the day, as they will feed all day.

Just a simple jay...

Common yard-bird...

Not. Like that acorn woody shot where he seemed to be pecking at a high voltage cable, these juv jays are only "caged" in two dimensional space. In actual three dimensions, they were free to fly, and the pecker was just checking out the power pole for left over acorns. Oh, and speaking...

I can't believe the youngsters are still arriving. This one came so close that I couldn't get it all in the frame.

Woops. I'm posting an older jay shot already. My best flight effort lately, I think, though I still have much to learn. The story of this one is - morning walk along the trail through Sonoma Meadow, heard some strange bird sounds from a large oak tree - familiar, yet different. Walked over and...

The last of my scrub jay shots for this trip. Last one taken, that is. I may post an older one at some point.

Finally made a trip to the WiFi caf, so here come a few shots from yesterday's morning walk along the bike path through the meadow. This Western Scrub Jay (juv, I think) was hanging out together with the juv bluebird.