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!

Tags: bird, birding, Birds, birdwatching, blue jay, Delaware, flight, nature, photographs, photography, photos

45 thoughts on “I’ve Got the Blues”

Gunta on 05/08/2016 at 9:14 PM said:

Amazing and such fun. Looks like you’re having a grand time. Keep it up!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:51 AM said:
  
  It’s nice to settle down in the evening with a campfire after a day of running around helping everyone else! 🙂
  
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  - Gunta on 05/09/2016 at 10:50 AM said:
    
    Leave enough time to keep us posted from all the running around! Love your shots of the birds!
Stephen Talabac on 05/08/2016 at 9:23 PM said:

Tack-sharp portrait shots Donna… and a terrific in-flight capture of the Jay with an acorn in its bill!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:53 AM said:
  
  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! 🙂
  
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avian101 on 05/08/2016 at 9:26 PM said:

Great captures Donna! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:53 AM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ! 🙂
  
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circadianreflections on 05/08/2016 at 9:45 PM said:

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!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:57 AM said:
  
  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! 😉
  
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  - circadianreflections on 05/09/2016 at 9:50 AM said:
    
    🙂
littleswedishfish on 05/08/2016 at 9:56 PM said:

beautiful shots!! same here…did not know about the blue color, fascinating!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:58 AM said:
  
  Thanks so much! It really is amazing all the colors of the birds and then to find out how they really attain their brilliance!
  
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belindagroverphotography on 05/08/2016 at 10:34 PM said:

Lovely shots!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:59 AM said:
  
  Thanks so much, Belinda!
  
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1kayaker on 05/08/2016 at 10:39 PM said:

Very nice shots I like the blue jay in flight. That is a challenge for me to capture a clear bird in flight photo.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:00 AM said:
  
  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! 🙂
  
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Sketching on Whidbey Island on 05/08/2016 at 10:57 PM said:

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

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:03 AM said:
  
  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
  
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  - Sketching on Whidbey Island on 05/09/2016 at 8:36 AM said:
    
    They are interesting to watch as long as you’re not victim
  - bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:02 PM said:
    
    🙂
quietsolopursuits on 05/09/2016 at 1:47 AM said:

Even half tame blue jays are difficult to photograph so well, very nice!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:03 AM said:
  
  Thanks, Jerry, I do think they are enjoying playing hide and seek with me! 😉
  
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niasunset on 05/09/2016 at 4:05 AM said:

So lovely one and beautiful photographs. Thank you dear Donna, Love, nia

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:03 AM said:
  
  Thanks so much, Nia! hugs!
  
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aussiebirder on 05/09/2016 at 6:33 AM said:

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.:-)

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:05 AM said:
  
  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! 🙂
  
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Laura (Createarteveryday) on 05/09/2016 at 6:53 AM said:

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!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:08 AM said:
  
  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! 🙂
  
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  - Laura (Createarteveryday) on 05/09/2016 at 8:43 AM said:
    
    They know you’ll have the evidence on film lol!
kathydoremus on 05/09/2016 at 7:21 AM said:

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!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 8:12 AM said:
  
  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!
  
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Susan Hale on 05/09/2016 at 8:14 AM said:

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!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:11 PM said:
  
  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. 🙂
  
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Tiny on 05/09/2016 at 8:24 AM said:

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.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:18 PM said:
  
  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.
  
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  - Tiny on 05/09/2016 at 7:20 PM said:
    
    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 🙂
  - bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:32 PM said:
    
    Sounds wonderful! 🙂
brighamstephen on 05/09/2016 at 11:29 AM said:

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.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:20 PM said:
  
  Thanks so much! It was a lucky shot for sure! 🙂
  
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anotherday2paradise on 05/09/2016 at 4:40 PM said:

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. 😀

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:24 PM said:
  
  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! 🙂
  
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  - anotherday2paradise on 05/09/2016 at 7:26 PM said:
    
    They probably think that you’re also an exquisite bird. 😀
  - bayphotosbydonna on 05/09/2016 at 7:34 PM said:
    
    LOL
Jet Eliot on 05/10/2016 at 11:58 AM said:

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.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 05/10/2016 at 3:39 PM said:
  
  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. 🙂
  
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