I’ve Got the Blues
Camping in the woods of a no-frills campground in Delaware, we are definitely living ‘with nature’. It’s so quiet and serene. Wildlife abounds if you just sit and watch. I’m enjoying every moment when I can and the weather cooperates.
I have never been anywhere where there are so many Blue Jays! About a dozen or more busily living around us. We’re among oak trees, and I’ve learned that acorns are one of the their favorite foods. So there’s one answer why so many. I’ve also located five of their nests actively being built.
So no doubt, the Blue Jays have provided many photo ops. They certainly don’t sit for very long, so it’s been fun trying to capture their eye and be in focus.
The pigment in the Blue Jay feathers is melanin, which is brown. The blue color is caused by light scattering through their modified cells on the surface of the Blue Jay’s feather barbs. Interesting!
Flight shots have been challenging for sure….
Now that was a mouthful!
I think this last one is saying, “okay you’ve shared enough, girl”, so I’ll end with that thought….
Sometimes it’s a joy to have the Blues!
Photos by Donna 
Amazing and such fun. Looks like you’re having a grand time. Keep it up!
It’s nice to settle down in the evening with a campfire after a day of running around helping everyone else! 🙂
Leave enough time to keep us posted from all the running around! Love your shots of the birds!
Tack-sharp portrait shots Donna… and a terrific in-flight capture of the Jay with an acorn in its bill!
Thanks so much, Steve! I was shocked I captured that Jay, they are so fast-moving. And thank you for the links you emailed me for the West. I’m excited to try them out while traveling! 🙂
Great captures Donna! 🙂
Thank you, HJ! 🙂
Oh my, it sure is! That last one with the tilt of its head and glint in its eye is amazing!
Your Blue Jays look different than ours. I love that striped tail and gingham like pattern in the wings!
Your campsite sounds wonderful to me!
Thanks, Deborah! The Blue Jays have really been quite fun. I think they like playing hide and seek with me, lol. They don’t realize I have a lot of patience! 😉
🙂
beautiful shots!! same here…did not know about the blue color, fascinating!
Thanks so much! It really is amazing all the colors of the birds and then to find out how they really attain their brilliance!
Lovely shots!
Thanks so much, Belinda!
Very nice shots I like the blue jay in flight. That is a challenge for me to capture a clear bird in flight photo.
Thanks so much! I think that’s why I enjoy the challenge of birds in flight. Boy oh boy, I do ‘trash’ quite a few to finally get one! 🙂
Beautiful blue jays in eastern U.S states. The blue jays in the western states are called Stellar Jays but while out camping we call them “camp robbers.” They will rob all the food items off your table as soon as your back is turned. I’ve watch a stellar jay enter the back of a camper’s SUV coming out with a good snack. The bird is covered with beautiful blue feathers with a noisy loud crackle cry. Thanks for sharing your camping story with the eastern blue jay
Thanks so much for your comments! That is so funny on seeing one a Jay take a snack from the SUV! Yes, our Blue Jays love to take what they can find at the camp sites. I’ve watched them watch a campsite of people and food. I can almost see them ‘making a maneuver plan’ to take something! lol
They are interesting to watch as long as you’re not victim
🙂
Even half tame blue jays are difficult to photograph so well, very nice!
Thanks, Jerry, I do think they are enjoying playing hide and seek with me! 😉
So lovely one and beautiful photographs. Thank you dear Donna, Love, nia
Thanks so much, Nia! hugs!
Donna, you have highlighted the Blue Jay so beautifully. It is one of my favorite American birds, Thanks for sharing. Yes, the sitting and waiting principle is the best birding tip.:-)
Thanks so much, Ashley! After years of 50-60+ hours a week working, I certainly do enjoy just sitting and waiting for a bird, they’ve taught me excellent patience! 🙂
Sounds like the perfect life, Donna! Wow, I’ve never been a fan of this bird (peanut stealer lol), but you may have converted me. Love these shots! Thank you!
Thanks so much, Laura! I’ve heard over the years how mean Blue Jays can be; but they certainly are being well-behaved around here! 🙂
They know you’ll have the evidence on film lol!
Lovely! You know I have a soft spot for these guys! I was just telling my daughter about your upcoming rv plans – I think we are both jealous!
Thanks so much, Kathy! You really do get such awesome Blue Jay captures, I hoped I could do half as well. They certainly don’t want to sit still very long. Boy oh boy, we’re definitely ready to roll these wheels and get moving, can’t wait!
Beautiful photos – and backdrops! Nothing like a natural setting to show off the beauty of the birds. We seem to have more than the normal amount right now. I have seen them digging into the cocoons that the tent caterpillars have woven (and it seems to be a disgustingly banner year for tent caterpillars as well). I wish they’d eat all the tent caterpillars they can find!
Thanks so much, Susan! I loved when the Jays landed on the rusty fire rings, giving that rustic look. 🙂 I too hope they eat all the tent caterpillars, we have many of those here also. Ah-ha! I’ll have to watch the cocoons to see if that’s where they’re hiding when I’ve lost a sighting on one. 🙂
So many lovely shots, Donna! These are not easy birds to capture on camera. LOVE the flying shot! It’s wonderful that you are surrounded by wildlife where you are right now.
Thanks so much, Helen! The campground is mostly vacant with all the critters having wide areas to run freely. 🙂 Camping season usually starts Memorial Day so right now it’s nice and quiet.
Sounds great Donna! Maybe one day in the winter you’ll camp here on Sand Key and we can watch all the Ospreys around here 🙂
Sounds wonderful! 🙂
Especially like the flight shot with acorn. For such a bold and loud bird I have getting a good photo. You obviously did not have that problem. Great shots.
Thanks so much! It was a lucky shot for sure! 🙂
Such exquisite birds! Your photos are enchanting, Donna, and I love the facial expressions that you’ve managed to capture here. Yes, that is quite a mouthful he has there. 😀
Beautiful and quite loud! lol But it’s actually been cool to also listen to the pairs talk to each other in a quiet chatter just branches apart. They still don’t know what to make of me and my lens though! 🙂
They probably think that you’re also an exquisite bird. 😀
LOL
Great blue jay photos, Donna. We don’t have blue jays in northern Calif., though we have scrubjays and steller’s, also a treat. But I miss seeing the blue jays of the eastern U.S., and your photos here were a joy.
Thanks so much, Jet! As much as people dislike them & their thievery, I was hoping to share the Blue Jays’ charm and personality that I am enjoying immensely. 🙂