Cornell’s Birds of North America Online calls Mountain Bluebirds one of the most sublime songbirds in North America and I agree. The cerulean blue of the male is simply spectacular and females and juveniles show some of it too.
1/5000, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains this beautiful male was hunting insects for at least four fledglings and he and his mate have been doing it for about a week now. The fledglings are beginning to find some of their own food but they’re still not fully independent. He landed on and hunted from a variety of perches as he looked for bugs. He was a relentless hunter as he provided for his offspring.
Mountain Bluebirds have been referred to as scaled-down versions of American Kestrels in their behavioral ecology and I can see why.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Once he landed so close to me that I had to shoot vertically to keep all of him comfortably in frame. I despise shooting vertically with my big lens because it’s so awkward and difficult to actually find the bird in the viewfinder but he gave me no practical choice.
1/6400, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A few times he even landed on more attractive perches.
1/4000, f/7.1, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
While perched here he cocked his head a little toward the sky, probably because he saw another bird in flight and needed to confirm it wasn’t an incoming predator. That’s something I see constantly with birds as they watch for potential threats.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
This fledgling had landed on the road to look for insects. Insects are attracted to the road, presumably for its warmth, and these birds hunted there more often than anywhere else. I was happy to catch this one at liftoff with a nice wing position, head turn and push-off posture.
1/5000, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
Once the same fledgling did a strange twitchy thing with its wings but it didn’t take off then. It might have been part of a begging behavior directed at a nearby parent that I didn’t see.
1/2000, f/7.1, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
There were several old and rusty fence-like structures made of heavy pipe in the area and they were favorite perches of both youngsters and adults. These two fledglings were already there when the male landed next to them. He didn’t have any food…
1/1600, f/9, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
but one of the youngsters begged obnoxiously anyway. His reaction was to try to back away but he ran out of room on the pipe behind him so he…
1/1600, f/9, ISO 640, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
got the hell out of Dodge.
For these last 3 photos I went to f/9 in an effort to have enough depth of field for all 3 birds but that made my shutter speed marginal for shots like this one. Photography is always a series of compromises.
Some of my readers occasionally chide me gently for my dislike of the “hand of man” in my images but this pipe is rusty and old and I don’t mind it at all. The older I get the more I think that “character” comes with age and that includes man-made perches. Besides, we can see all 3 birds much better on this pipe than we likely could if they had been in a tree or bush.
See, there’s hope for me yet…
Ron
Ron, that pipe reminds me of our old clothesline. Beautiful photos!
How very beautiful. We had a bluebird restoration here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon at Champoeg State Park. Diligent volunteer spent hours building the right type of birdhouse. Then it was years of patience and no results. All of a a sudden, we have many nesting pairs. When the light is right it’s like so many sapphires flying around in the air.
“When the light is right it’s like so many sapphires flying around in the air”
I’ve had similar experiences and thoughts, Barbara – especially when I’m driving and a migrating flock of them flies in front of me with the sun behind me. Takes your breath away…
Congrats on your eventual success with the bluebird boxes.
This series is just gorgeous! I love the colors and the expressions on the youngsters’ faces when the adult left.
Simply phenomenal, gorgeous shots!
Yes, parenting is tough focused work, but the end result can be superior, delightful, or a sigh of relief, all necessary in our world.
In the comfort of our armchair with a mug of java we need to remember it is a tough world out there for all of these birds and if they are fortunate to raise one nest of young they have become successful in evolutionary terms. Everything after that is frosting on the species survival cake.
Well said, Dick. Thanks.
I would have ‘flown for the hills’ too.
Parenting is obviously a synonym for patience. As well as exhaustion.
Wonderful series, and a marvellous start to my day.
Thank you, EC.
I really loved the incessant begging of the fledging. I’d have left too!
I’m sure to the parents it seems like they never quit!
What a spectacular series! Thanks again, Ron.
Thanks, Diane.
What a beautiful and patient bird to put up with all of that begging. It is part of parenting, however. I’m sure that the parents are happy when the little ones learn to fetch for themselves.
Thank you, Ron for the beautiful photos.
I suspect they’re ecstatic about it, Alice. I sure would be.
Beautiful birds photographed with great skill! Thanks once again for sharing.
Thanks, Joanne.
Spectacular series Ron! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Charlotte.
Just glorious–thanks for a great way to start the day……I notice that the cerulean blue ( a somewhat greenish blue ) is accented along the wings’ leading edges with an almost violet-
tinted blue–points up the cerulean beautifully………Ma Nature is the BEST artist !
I’m glad you like them, Chris. Thanks.
Beautiful “blue” birds Ron and wonderful shots. 🙂 The push off posture in the 5th picture really appeals to me! On RARE occasions we’ve had a couple of out of range indigo buntings that are also a beautiful blue! Thought they were blue birds at first! Vertical with a big lens is a real pain for sure. “Old” structures work even if man made………;) We all(hopefully) “evolve” in our tastes (hopefully) 😉 A first for me yesterday watching waxwings and yellow warblers hunt over the creek! Probably been there forever and I just haven’t “noticed” Is your lens/camera cooperating?
Yes my gear seems to be working normally again. I meant to report back on that in this post but just forgot to. I was so damned relieved to get sharp shots again! Hope it lasts…
Beautiful series!
Thank you.
I can just hear those youngsters on the pipe: “Whadja bring me, Dad? Whadja bring me, Dad? Nothing? Aw, nuts!” I like the pipe perch as well — the rust, the little dent on the end at about 7 o’clock, and the poop make it very interesting. (I wonder if the dent came from Mom and Dad banging their heads against it in frustration…😤)
I needed some beauty and amusement today. Thanks, as always, for providing it, Ron! 😄
Marty, at this age the fledglings aren’t very loud while begging but their begging calls can be persistent.
You and Mia have posted my Alma Mater (UCLA) colors today and that totally tickles me. We ARE amused! 😉
Wow, beautiful Ron. Seeing these is a great way to start the day. How many shades of blue in those photos? Love the demanding way those chicks are letting mom know what they want. Or maybe they just don’t want her on their pipe 🙂 And like you, I like the contrast in colors that you get with the pipe. Naturally I prefer natural photos in trees and shrubs normally, but you will never see the fullness of those colors without the pipe.
Everett Sanborn
Prescott AZ
Thanks, Everett. I love that blue with one exception. When the male especially is against a blue sky background the bird almost disappears. They call that color “cerulean” blue for good reason!
Wow! Love all the photos…truly a beautiful bird. Sitting and watching the persistence birds have with the feeding of their young is heartwarming. They must breath a sigh of relief when the last one finally is totally independent. I’ve also noticed the upwards glancing of birds, being ever watchful. 🙂 The other morning I was waken by a family of BlueJays feeding their young and went out to see them…I thought at first they were Grackles with their raspy calling that was totally annoying but the four youngsters must have just fledged because they did not make an attempt to find food…nothing but screaming! That parent was constantly flying and feeding!
“They must breath a sigh of relief when the last one finally is totally independent”
Kathy, I breathe the same sigh because their frenetic activity all through raising them and getting them independent makes me tired too! 🙂
That male Bluebird looks exhausted! Which I suspect means you have captured his essence pretty accurately. Did you ever see him sneak off for some “alone time”?
Probably, Porcupine. Sometimes while he was perched it was hard to tell if he was actively hunting or just taking a break.