Showing posts with label Blue Jay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blue Jay. Show all posts
Sunday, June 15, 2025
Saturday, May 4, 2024
Saturday, July 15, 2023
Friday, June 24, 2022
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Friday, October 16, 2020
Friday, September 21, 2018
Oklahoma Vagrants: Steller's Jay
A common jay in thick coniferous forest and mature woods of the West, Steller's Jay might also be observed in oak woods and other adjacent wood. They will also be plentiful in campgrounds, back yards, and parks. Small groups of these omnivores often feed together upon insects, seeds and fruit, they can even entertain at bird feeders for black oil and striped sunflower seeds, and are excellent for removing picnic food. Their attraction is to whole raw peanuts, and they will also accept the shelled variety. Cracked corn is also favored, and suet will be accepted in the winter months. They also eat their share of protein, including lizards, eggs, nestlings, snakes, and rodentia.
The long dark crest, dark blue and black upper body, and lacking white on the wings will be a good indication that you're visiting with the mountain jay. Social with humans at picnic areas and camp sites, they will compete with the Gray Jay in its range.
First located on the Oklahoma Panhandle in 1970, it appears more often today, but is still yet to arrive in any recent numbers. Seen only in Cimarron County, mostly in winter, it has arrived more often in 2017 and 2018 than it did in the past. It came to the Benton Ranch in spring of 2018, which is as far east as it has been.
Steller's Jay
Pima County, AZ 2018
Bold, relentless, and aggressive, the Blue Jay has been overlapping the long-crested jay's territory, which is no longer the only crested jay found west of the Rockies. For those of us acquainted with the Blue Jay in our region, the pine jay varies in its own regional locations. Both Steller's and Blue Jays interbreed to hybridize where ranges overlap. It has been argued that their distinction as a species is a moot point.
Black-brown headed birds of the north become bluer headed as one travels south. Eastern birds on the Great Divide have white marks over the eyes (Interior West subspecies). The far west birds have little white on the head or none at all (Pacific subspecies).
This handsome corvid was named after German naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller, who was the first European to record them in 1741. It is also a known mimic, like any other member of the corvidae, and enjoys victimizing small songbirds with this talent with its raptor impersonations, as well as other beings and objects.
Friday, April 22, 2016
Getting in the Groove of Spring with the Neotropical Migrants
Baird's Sandpiper
Kansas Glossy Snake
Barred Owl
White-faced Ibis
Yellow-rumped Warbler(Myrtle)
Green Heron
Cedar Waxwing
Female Gadwall
Blue Jay
Harris's Sparrow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
55-67 degrees F/partly cloudy/light and variable winds
The first four photos are a carry over from my time spent in the western part of Oklahoma. Sadly,
I was unable to capture a Cassin's Sparrow, which was in the area and the prairie dogs and Burrowing Owls were staying undercover.
Upon my return home, I was still greeted with rain, which came from a front that infiltrated Texas
and western Oklahoma first.
As you can see, I still was able to get some good photos over the past couple of days, which made the wait well worth it. A Neotropic Cormorant has been at Boomer Lake for several days. The Baltimore Oriole and Warbling Vireo are now home as well as one member of my Green Heron family, the eldest. I believe this one is a grandparent, one of the original settlers of the Southern Cove. Last year, that art of the lake hosted two families. So we shall see what this summer brings
us.
The female Gadwall pictured here was all by herself, taking up with an American Wigeon, some Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, and some American Coot. Observed yesterday was another male Wood Duck, so perhaps he will get used to my presence and maybe I'll be fortunate enough to see some young on the creek.
There are plenty of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, at least a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers, and at
least one Yellow Warbler on the lake proper. A Common Loon was spotted, which I thought I saw a couple of days ago with a raft of Double-crested Cormorant, but dismissed that thought. I guess I was right after all!
Onward and upward!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
It's Hard Being Top Bird in These Parts
Mallard Drake
Northern Flicker
Black-and-White Warbler
Red-bellied Woodpecker
American Robin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Harris's Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler, First Year
Blue Jay
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruddy Duck
Male Carolina Wren
Male Northern Cardinal
Male House Finch
1150-1515 hrs./46-58 degrees F/partly cloudy/18 mph NNW wind gusts
Many birds are making an appearance, as there are lovely tender green shoots for their meals.
It is hard work to shiver and keep warm, so many of these birds must take in a lot of calories.
Males are busy establishing territories, enticing a female that will find him a good choice, and
letting other males know that his territory is taken and he will tolerate no intruders.
Welcome to the world of spring, and may you enjoy it as much as I am.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Souls of the Heartland
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Blue Jay
Male Bufflehead
Male Gadwall
Male Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
0730-1130 hrs./39-50 degrees F/35 degree wind chill at start/partly cloudy/0-15 mph wind gusts
El Nino has made things a little cool around here first thing in the morning, but as the wind whips off the Rockies, I trek my way forward. As the warm breath blows into my gloved clenched fists, I fight
to go on, even though my hands are numb. My face also feels the chilled air, but there are high hopes in my heart. If this is what explorers feel like, I have passed the test, and the forward momentum shows that there are many things yet to discover.
See the world through my eyes, and the intensity in my heart. I have only just begun.
Friday, December 25, 2015
Christmas With the Birds
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Red-tailed Hawk
Ruddy Ducks
0730-1250 hrs./37-57 degrees F/partly to mostly cloudy/15 mph wind gusts
This was a wonderful Christmas with terrific weather and wonderful friends. There were
a couple of shots that I need to try to obtain later, but I'm confident in doing so, as all good
thing come to pass.
If your holiday was as good as mine, you had a top notch day, too.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
A Wide Range of Offerings For All to Enjoy
Cooper's Hawk
Great Egret
European Starling
Blue Jay
Eastern Kingbird
Ditto
Blue Jay
Very Thin Juvenile Blue Jay with Brown Thrasher
Juvenile Blue Jay
Juvenile Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Great Egret in Flight
Great Egret with Crawdad
Close Up
Great Egret
Ditto, In Flight
Ditto
Great Egret
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Chickadee
Male Northern Cardinal
Great Egret on 09-12-14
8 Cattle Egrets on 09-12-14
0730-1230/Mostly Cloudy/10-15 mph winds
It has been quite a while since I've been out, as you can see. Fall Migration is underway and the
hawks are also visiting the lake during the mornings. They should also be out later in the day, too.
Plenty of Yellow Warblers and the American Goldfinch are enjoying the fall offerings at the lake,
nyjer(thistle), as well as plenty of sunflower seeds and nectar, too. There are young Red-bellied woodpeckers, which are preceded by their calls. Get out and enjoy!
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