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European Jay


European Jay
Photo Information
Copyright: Deborah Kelleher (Debz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 582 W: 0 N: 866] (3283)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-11
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM, 58mm U.V. filter
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/30 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-13 5:07
Viewed: 736
Points: 52
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
European Jay
Garrulus glandarius

Family
Crows and allies (Corvidae)

I took this on a day when I was trying to catch good shots of the Jays. I tempted them with nuts and was very patient. However, I was not well prepared and as they come and go so quickly I did not have good exposures for woodland, (even though I kept changing them) Shots on the ground and in trees were not up to TN standard but I think I did learn from it. Being slightly frustrated I shall keep trying for the classic shot of this colourful and elusive bird. This one was on a wall, I tilted the camera and quite like the angle. Any tips of shooting under woodland cover would be welcome. Thanks to all for looking.

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. When excited, or displaying, jays raise their streaked crest up.

Although more often heard than seen, the bright blue flashes in the wings give away this pinky-coloured, often secretive woodland bird.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, except northern 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, 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.

When excited, or displaying, jays raise their streaked crest up. Although more often heard than seen, the bright blue flashes in the wings give away this pinky-coloured, often secretive woodland bird.
RSPB
fartash, JoseMiguel, sherlock628, gracious, vanderschelden, Necipp, Pentaxfriend, jaycee, Adanac, TAZ, angybone, Mariol, marhowie has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Heyshamite: Euopean JayDebz 3 11-14 16:22
To Necipp: European JayDebz 1 11-13 12:06
To joey: European JayDebz 1 11-13 05:51
To JoseMiguel: European JayDebz 3 11-13 05:40
To fartash: WebsiteDebz 1 11-13 05:30
To fartash: European JayDebz 1 11-13 05:13
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Deborah,
Beautiful capture!
I like very much the POV and and pose caught on the bird.
The way it seems to look upwards let us admire its gorgeous plumage and colours.
DOF produced a wonderful blurred aand colorful background.
My compliments and thanks for share it.
Best regards,
JM

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1692 W: 242 N: 5589] (19849)
  • [2007-11-13 5:36]
  • [+]

Hello Deborah,
this is a lovely photo of this Jay.
I rarely see them where I live so thankyou for showing this photo.
+++ Great sharpness and clarity. The feathers are so detailed!
Natural colours that show the Jay's pink and blue very well.
I like the DOF and BG.
Good notes to accompany...
--- Slightly OE underneath the beak... but is hardly a problem!
Fine work.
Well done,
Joe

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2611 W: 133 N: 7494] (23373)
  • [2007-11-13 7:25]

Hello Debz,
If this shot is anything to go by, you are well on the way to getting the shot of a Jay that you desire.
Great pose, colours, sharpness and composition. The OOF natural green BG sets it off nicely. I'm sure that you will achieve a Jay shot showing the blue wing feathers at their best, but patience is necessary as in my experience these are difficult birds to photograph as one wants them.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

hello deborah,
very nice shot, i liked the pose very much, nice lighting, lovely composition, excellent dof,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Hello Debz,
Wonderful composition, excellent detail and DOF. And the colours are awesome. TFS
Thomas

Hello Debz,
Well captured of this cute little fellow in a good pose for you!
The DOF is perfect in sharpness, vivid colour and details!
the clarity on the plummage is superb!
very well done and thanks for the most useful notes
best wishes
Tony

Hello Deborah,
It has a nice 'look'; like its sharp eye for instance.
Natural light. Nice BG.
TFS
Annick

Hi Deborah,

Great shot of this shy European Jay
excellent sharpness with fine details and great colours

TFS Thijs

Hello Debz great shot! so hard to get close enough to them, nice light, fine exposure with good post process well done my best rgds as always Necip.

Hi Deborah,
Good definition in the chest feathering, whites a bit burnt out because of the strong sunlight hitting it. Lovely blue wing flash. I like the position.
TFS.
Peter

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1786 W: 8 N: 4638] (14987)
  • [2007-11-13 12:33]

Hi Debz,

A beautiful bird in a wonderful pose looking up. Wonderful colors - good details - a lovely composition.

Jane

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1991 W: 5 N: 5557] (20998)
  • [2007-11-13 12:52]

Hi Debz. You have captured a shot of a bird i have not taken as yet. i do like the colours of the feathers which you have captured so well with fine detail. what a nice pose with the bird looking up in the air. good light in the eye.well done tFS. good notes too.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1048 W: 1 N: 4156] (13964)
  • [2007-11-13 18:05]

Hello Deborah,
Just an amazingly sharp and detailed image of a wonderful jay I have not seen before thanks for sharing.
Rick

The angle of this wall sure enhances the look of the bird with it's head pointing that way too.
That is one nice bit of composition! Light coming from the direction also adds to that.
Good work Deborah .

Hi Debz, superb colors for this cute bird, great composition with wonderful details, splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Deborah
Wonderful shot of this European Jay,
Great pose,exposure and composition,
Superb shot,Welldone.

Regards
fartashphoto.com

Magnifiques détails, superbes couleurs avec une lumière extraordinaire.
Bravo
Marie

  • Great 
  • TAZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2385 W: 50 N: 3184] (10918)
  • [2007-11-14 22:17]

Hello Deborah,
Great portrait for this lovely bird very well captured !
The "+++++" : nice composition, beautiful subject and pose, POV, sharpness, good details in feathers, DOF, vivid colors, good light and exposure, instructive complementary note in the spirit of TN...
The "-" : nothing...
Bravo and thanks for sharing,
Christian

Wonderful diagonal here! Great lighting. Well composed. Good shot! :)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-11-15 7:01]

Hello Deborah

A beautiful shot of this Jay.
It is well composed with excellent focus and details.
The plumage is well defined with very good colour.
Excellent POV and DOF.
TFS

Rob

Rob

Hi Deborah.
Very lovely. Wonderful colours. Great sharpness. I like the offset composition, with him (?) looking into the frame. Great capture. Well done.
Regards, Steve.

  • Great 
  • Mariol Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 10 N: 1015] (4139)
  • [2007-11-15 19:32]

Hi Deborah,
This is a very nice bird. I saw the European Jay only once - this summer in Greece. I was so excited that I miss the shot. Yours is nice with rich colours and original POV. TFS
Regards, Mario

  • Great 
  • NinaM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 0 N: 1388] (4593)
  • [2007-11-16 13:14]

Hi Deborah,I had never seen an European jay, lovely colours as well. I love this shot with the angle of the camera, it makes a great composition. I have the same problem as you as for taking pictures in the shadow of trees, I usually push the ISO to get speed mostly for the jays, they are truly fast. Knowing this, your picture is even better. Beautiful background too. Thank you,

Francine

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1330 W: 107 N: 4804] (21334)
  • [2007-11-19 4:55]

Hello Deborah, that's a very shot of the Jay, sharp image with a very good exposure and a dynamic composition. Great background too ! Thanks.

Mario

Great capture Deb, I think you managed the exposure and color very well. I like the pose/POV with the bird looking up, and the details I see.
Excellent BG and a pleasing composition also :)
Howard

bonjour deborah
il y a une part de chance!vous avez obtenu un bonne photo de ce geai qui pour l'instant reste un oiseau bruyant mais distant pour moi.
le plumage est assez bien detaillé.les couleurs juste et le BG bien lumineux et flou.
laurent

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