Camera Critters - Stellar's Jay

I hope you aren't tiring of the photos from my recent trip to Colorado. Today's featured photographs are from Rocky Mountain National Park near the Estes Park entrance. As we were driving along, a deep blue bird flew across the road in front of us. "Oh!" I said, and my husband stopped because he is learning that "Oh!" means I've just seen something wonderful and need to take a picture. :) We ended up having to turn around so I could see a small group of Stellar's jays foraging among the pines.

stellarjay


The sun was going down, and I was disappointed that I don't know my hubby's camera better. Add the flitting behavior, and I ended up with dark, grainy, and mostly blurry photographs. I was able to lighten these two up a bit with PSE 7.0 and de-speckle so they aren't quite so grainy. Why didn't I use a flash? Well, it's against park rules, actually. And truthfully, we could not get close enough for the flash to have been a benefit even if I could have used it.

I was so excited to see these birds as I always am when I add to my life list. They look to me like blue jays that have fallen into a pot of indigo dye.

stellarjay2


Be sure to check out the other submissions at Camera Critters.

Comments

Adrienne, Thank you for stopping by! I'm in Indiana right next door to you.....Warsaw to be exact(northern). Oh, the jays are gorgeous! We went to Aspen in the summer for a wedding and it was breathtaking in the mountains...I'll have to post an old photo of my daughter and I that we took while there. Flowers everywhere! Most people go there to ski but we're not snow lovers since we have it here. Have a great spring!
RA said…
That's a stunning blue bird! I never have seen a jay. Have a great weekend.
i beati said…
what lovely shots but no green yet??Sandy
Congratulation on you Lifer!.
Beautiful blue jays.
Adrienne: That jay does have a similar look to our jay here in Ohio. Thanks for sharing your find. I will post at noon.
Indrani said…
I can sense that joy of yours.
The satisfaction is tremendous when you get shots like that.
Such vibrant blue. Envious we just don't get this bird here.
Lona said…
Adrienna, what great shots. I love the colors of this Jay and different from our Blue Jays here. The brown and blue is so pretty on it. Have a great weekend.
Snap said…
Glad you made the trip to Colorado and are sharing!Great shots.
Willard said…
I have not seen them before. It is good that you got to see and photograph them.
Anonymous said…
The only "Jay" I've seen is a Blue Jay. This is a beutiful bird and I think your photos are really good. Great capture!
Reader Wil said…
Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos! I love the jay. In the Netherlands the jays are not blue, but beige with a little bit of blue.
jenn said…
That is one beautiful bird.
Carletta said…
He is indeed beautiful! I too like to add to my list and a blue heron far away this week was a prime example. I like to capture the moment too even though it isn't always the best picture - gives us something to still strive for.
This little guy has the shape and head like our blue jays - his color is beautiful.
My post is here: Carletta’s Captures.
Unknown said…
Lovely shots and what a beautiful blue that bird is..

Don't blame you for wanting to stop..
Dianne said…
pretty blue color
and I love their spiky feathers
Maude Lynn said…
I think that they turned out absolutely lovely!
Diane said…
sounds like a nice trip! great shots!
Susan Cook said…
Terrific shots. I'd love to see one. We just have blue jays here not stellar jays.
Dirkjogt said…
The pictures are great, you did a good job with PSE.
Smalltown RN said…
They are beautiful birds...they visited my bird feeder on a regular basis...and shoo the other birds away....their colour is vibriant that is for certain....lovely photo...
Reader Wil said…
Me again! Thanks for your visit. The dog in the header is not mine, but my Australian daughter's. He is sweet, isn't he?!
I really love reading about your adventures Adrienne...it sounds like you had a lovely trip together! (That last photo is so pretty!)
Island Style said…
Indeed they do..lovely photos-
Deejbrown said…
Stellar's Jays are at the top of my list of favorites. Love their "look at me" crest!
Carla said…
Well, I don't know whats cooler, this bird, Colorado, or that you and your hubby do this together:)
Dot O said…
Adrienne, these photos are wonderful! Those birds are gorgeous. I looked through your other older entries and I loved that Easter family pic! I, like you, have a hubby who is supportive of my photo taking stuff and will often stop and pull over just to allow me a particular photo-op!

The bird pics are amazing!
Dot O said…
Adrienne, I just read on someone's blog (can't remember which one) that our cell phones with cameras are good for this.

If you have one, give it a try!! A heck of a lot lighter than the SLR cameras. I never thought to borrow one of my kids' point and shoots.... I'm a bit of an airhead....
Martha said…
Nice shots! :-)
Smalltown RN said…
The steller jay is our provincial bird and is here often...I have many photos of the stellar jay. I appreciated your comment re what I thought was a house finch you thought might be a golden finch not yet moltted....what makes you think that? Being new to this birding I would appreciate learning how one can distinguish the nuanaces with in the same species of bird. I get golden finches here and have photos of them on my blog...so I really thrown by your comments.....and suggestions would be greatly appreciated....cheers...
Misty DawnS said…
Oh how cool! I always get SO excited to see a new species. My buddy Bear lives in Oregon and he has Stellar Jays, but not our Blue Jays. So, he takes photos of Stellar Jays for me, and I take photos of our Blue Jays for him ;-)

P.S. My Hubs also has learned how to interpret my "Oh" or my frantic finger pointing or hand gestures as I reach for the camera ;-)
Minie said…
beautiful bird. gosh so cold there i wonder birds survive in cold now i know. great shot.

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