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Woodland Encounter
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
An overnight fishing trip resulted in a score of Us - 0 Fish - Laughing... it happens far too often when fishing one of the tougher angling waters. Not to worry though, the location was gorgeous and the bird life numerous. I saw a tree creeper and discovered they hang vertically on the trunk of a tree to do their preening. I saw a robin, in moult, come at the same time each afternoon to a sunny spot on the forest floor, to fluff its feathers, spread its wings, turn its beak to the sky and sunbathe. (photos to come). There were long tailed tits, wrens, flycatchers, great tits, herons, great crested grebes, coots, moorehens, terns, black headed gulls, mallards, tufted ducks and several species of small birds that I couldn't see clearly enough to identify. I also had my first close encounter with a jay. These birds tend to be elusive and shy around people. Most times you get a glimpse of them from the rear as they fly away through the trees. I lucked out as this jay seemed to have a passion for the digestive biscuits (graham crackers to you in the USA) I'd put out for my little moulting robin friend. It threw caution to the wind and landed on the path, following the trail of crumbs until it was quite close to me. It knew I was there and kept that wonderful blue/grey eye cocked in my direction the whole while.
When we arrived home the first thing I did was drag out my bird books and read up on what I'd seen. Jays are primarily forest dwellers and their winter food consists of acorns that they collect in the fall and bury. A single jay will bury between 4,000 and 5,000 acorns each year. Having an extraordinarily good memory they are able to go back and find most of them during the winter.
I have several other shots of this jay that I will post. I chose this for the initial post because it shows all the field identifiers, especially those brilliant blue feathers and the moustache. Unfortunately there is a bit of blowout on the white rump and wing. I'd welcome any advice on how to avoid this. It was shot in the deep shade and with the f/stop any wider the DOF became too shallow (a couple of earlier photos with a wider f/stop had parts of the bird out of focus)
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This is information from the RSPB website.
Latin name
Garrulus glandarius
Family
Crows and allies (Corvidae)
Overview
Although they are the most colourful members of the crow family, jays are actually quite difficult to see. They are shy woodland birds, rarely moving far from cover. The screaming call usually lets you know a jay is about and it is usually given when a bird is on the move, so watch for a bird flying between the trees with its distinctive flash of white on the rump. Jays are famous for their acorn feeding habits and in the autumn you may see them burying acorns for retrieving later in the winter.
Where to see them
Found across most of the UK, but only occurs in southern Scotland. Lives in both deciduous and coniferous woodland, parks and mature gardens. Likes oak trees in autumn when there are plenty of acorns. Often seen flying across a woodland glade giving its screeching call. and it becomes more obvious in autumn when it may fly some distance in the open in search of acorns.
When to see them
All year round, but often more obvious in autumn when they travel most in search of acorns, beech mast and hazelnuts to bury.
What they eat
Acorns, nuts, seeds and insects.
Estimated numbers
Europe UK breeding* UK wintering* UK passage*
- 160,000 pairs - -
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Additional information about jays can be found here at Wikipedia |
Argus, rkailas, Jamesp, jmirah, Alex99, jaycee, vanderschelden, gannu, deblink, uleko, bullybeef53 has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
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- Argus
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3819 W: 190 N: 11368]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(35041) - [2007-07-09 1:24]
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Hello Mish,
Let me be the first to congratulate you on a fine captur of the European Jay. Taken from a fine POV and well composed this is sharp and with good colours and lighting.
Well done and TFS!
Regards, Ivan
Hello Mish
Wonderful POV - very well captured with a good, neutral back and foreground.
TFS
Ravi
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- joey
(24727)
- [2007-07-09 1:40]
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Hi Mish,
an excellant shot of this beautiful bird.
Sharp and detailed.
Well done,
Joe
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- pirate
(3215)
- [2007-07-09 1:55]
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Hi Mish
Great compo and good posture with perfect sharpness
Tfs
Tom
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- Jamesp
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif)
(16522) - [2007-07-09 3:29]
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Hi Mish
A lovely shot of the Jay. The POV is excellent and I like the focus and colour.
I have never managed to get a shot of one even though there are plenty living in my neighbourhood.
Jmaes
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- jmirah
(4665)
- [2007-07-09 4:04]
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Beautiful shot of an unusual bird...It looks like a cross between a Blue Jay, Magpie, Wood Thrush and Black-crowned Night-Heron...Great color and fantastic detail and focus...TFS
Jim
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- Alex99
(18533)
- [2007-07-09 5:36]
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Hi Mish.
I like your very nice shot of this wonderful bird. Especially I like the great DOF and sharp all BG. I think now that blurred ground at such pictures is looked nicely very seldom. Exposure, contrast and saturation are perfect as well as the composition and excellent note. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.
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- jaycee
![Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-s-g.gif)
(21912) - [2007-07-09 8:23]
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Hi Mish,
A wonderful shot of this lovely looking bird. Excellent colors - details - setting. The eye is amazing. Lovely plummage and beautiful looking wings. Great pose - even a slightly opened beak. Wonderful natural setting.
Jane
Hello Mish,
Well composed and very sharp. Image is dispalying the bird's specs very well indeed.
Well done
TFS
Annick
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- gannu
(14691)
- [2007-07-10 1:35]
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Mish, Lovely shot and what a beautiful eyes. Ganesh
Wow, it sounds like you were in a bird watcher's paradise Mish. This image of the Jay is superb, such wonderful detail. The bird has wonderful colourings and your image shows us that so well.
Cheers,
Debbie
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- uleko
(2823)
- [2007-07-17 1:29]
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Hello Mish.
Lovely capture of this Jay in profile. Excellent sharpness and lovely colours. They're hard to get near so you've done really well here!
TFS and best wishes, Ulla
Wow Mish ,
this is very sharp , colorful , and detailed .
Jim
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 32 W: 5 N: 169]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif)
(791)