Out of Season (Mountain Bluebird)
An out-of-season mountain bluebird has been lingering around the venue for the past few weeks. This is a rare occurrence, as we typically see bluebirds only in the spring. Initially, it was presumed to be a female, but it is more likely an out-of-season juvenile male.
Post Shot (Mountain Bluebird)
I never get tired of the beautiful combination of blues and blacks on these male mountain bluebirds. Fantastic!
Bluebird Launch (Mountain Bluebird)
A male mountain bluebird launches off of the top of a small bush to catch a flying insect.
Jump Shot (Mountain Bluebird)
A male mountain bluebird jumps down from a wooden fence to snatch up a bug in the grass.
Posing on Driftwood (Mountain Bluebird)
In this image a mountain bluebird stops momentarily to pose for me on an old driftwood log.
Blue on Blue 2024 (Mountain Bluebird)
Saw three of these handsome guys today. Always lovely to see them in the spring. It can be real hit and miss here as some years we don't see any at all. They stop on Vancouver Island to feed up before heading to the interior for nesting.
Portrait Version (Mountain Bluebird)
Here is a portrait image with somewhat better eye contact.
Driftwood Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
This image was taken from a few days ago. I went to check the venue out yesterday and they had all moved on. A lovely spring interlude with some great photo ops.
Pristine (Mountain Bluebird)
Another nice one from today's shoot at the Nanaimo River Estuary.
Englishman River Estuary Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
Went to Englishman River Estuary today and found ~ 20 bluebirds. The main flock was very skittish except for the odd one that would remain in place for a quick photo.
Holden Creek Mountain Bluebird
I had heard rumors of a fallout of bluebirds after this lousy weather we have been having lately.
Sometimes the odd one will show up but usually at the end of March or first week in April.
So, this morning I went on a quest locally to find some. I ended up at Holden Creek south of Nanaimo where I found 3 male and 2 female birds.
We don't usually get to photograph these guys until we go to the interior later on in the spring so this is a special treat.
One Last Bluebird Flight Shot (Male Mountain Bluebird)
Couldn't resist posting this one. Nice top down view.
Bluebird Male on Natural Perch
The bluebirds spent a lot of time on wires and fence posts but I finally got a chance to get the male on a more natural perch.
Female Mountain Bluebird
Not as flashy as the male but still quite beautiful in her own way.
Bank Right (Mountain Bluebird)
Tunkwa Lake Road Mountain Bluebird. Lots of these guys near the nest boxes along the fence line.
Dorsal View (Mountain Bluebird)
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Bluebird Glide (Mountain Bluebird)
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Bank Left (Mountain Bluebird)
Tunkwa Lake Road Mountain Bluebird. Lots of these guys near the nest boxes along the fence line.
Bluebird Jump (Mountain Bluebird)
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Driftwood Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
Sorry, missed posting this one from the other day.
Down By The Sea (Mountain Bluebird)
Made another trip up island to visit the mountain bluebird today.
Crown of Thornes (Mountain Bluebird)
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Top of The Heap (Mountain Bluebird)
A mountain bluebird stops to rest momentarily on an old piece of driftwood.
Bluebird of Happiness (Mountain Bluebird)
Photographed a lovely male mountain bluebird today up in Parksville.
Weathered Wood Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
As with all my photos when I post-process I try to catch what I saw through the view finder at the time of shooting. Very hard to do with a mountain bluebird as the camera really doesn't do justice to how beautiful they are. The perception of their colors is dependent solely on the light that hits them at the time. So, the blue seems to change along with the weather or the environment that they are in.
Tunkwa Bluebirds (Mountain Bluebird)
A pair of mountain bluebirds pose for me on a snag near Tunkwa Lake.
Happy Easter 2019 (Mountain Bluebird)
Here is one from last year's Kamloops trip that I was saving for an Easter greeting. Hope you like it.
Blue On Blue 2018 (Mountain Bluebird)
A male mountain bluebird brings food for hungry chicks back at the nest.
Bluebird Backshot (Mountain Bluebird)
Never get tired of photographing these guys. Here is one of my signature over the shoulder back shots.
Bluebird Blast Off (Mountain Bluebird)
A mountain bluebird blasts off of a snag on the side of the road near Logan Lake B.C.
Perch Of Webs (Mountain Bluebird)
Having a lot of fun playing with mountain bluebirds in the mountains near Kamloops B.C.
Happy Easter Everyone!
Wishing a Happy Easter to all of my Flickr buddies out there. Thanks for all of the wonderful comments over the years and I hope to keep creating great images for you to enjoy.
Tunkwa Lake Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
Better than a post shot any day. Couldn't resist the lovely blue on this mountain bluebird. Taken a couple of miles from Logan Lake on the Tunkwa Lake road. If you go later in the season like late June or early July there are flocks of fifty or more blue birds sitting in the middle of the road.
Blue on Blue 2017 (Mountain Bluebird)
Lots of different birds out on the Nanaimo Estuary today. Had to wait a couple of hours though before seeing this female mountain bluebird. This is the first mountain bluebird that I have photographed since 2014. With the grey head you can really see the similarities to the Townsend's Solitaire.
Duncan Western Bluebirds
Went to Duncan today to visit my Western Bluebird friends. Wished that I had taken the big gun with me as they proved to be a little skittish. I did manage to get a few hand held shots with the 100-400mm at about 50 - 75 feet a couple of times though. Both male and female pictured here in a nice juxtaposition on a wire fence near one of the nest boxes.
Here's Hoping (Mountain Bluebird)
I realize that it is still a few weeks away but I am really looking forward to the return of the mountain and western bluebirds. It hasn't been great around here for them the last couple of years probably due to the temperature change and things being so much warmer. This winter was colder with more snow in the mountains so here's hoping that we will see more of them on the island before they head to the interior to nest.
Early Winter Mountain Bluebird !!!???
Get a load of this guy! Not supposed to be seen in these parts until at least April. Found him out on a log at Piper's Lagoon yesterday just before the big rain hit. Strange tail too. Only had one or two feathers - weird.
Textures in Blue And Grey
Mountain bluebird preening in oak tree.
Archival Bluebird Portrait
Here is a remake from the archives. A close up portrait of a male mountain bluebird. Taken with my old Canon 50D and a 500mm with a 1.4X.
Arial Acrobatics
The female western bluebird captures some sort of orange moth in mid air to feed to her chicks.
Male Western Bluebird At Nest
Here the male western bluebird delivers what appears to be some sort of beetle to the chicks in the nest.
Mr. Bluebird's On My Shoulder
Well, not quite but here is another picture from the Duncan bluebirds. Went for another visit today and you can now easily hear the little ones in the nest. Both parents are very busy collecting bugs for the kids.
Standing Guard
The male western bluebird stands guard on a fence post just a few feet away from the nest box.
Duncan Western Bluebirds
Stopped off for a visit with the western bluebirds in Duncan today. Pretty friendly bunch. It was warm so my wife had the door of the car open. The male and female came down and landed right on the door frame at one point. Nice to see that they are actively catching insects and appear to be feeding young ones although I didn't hear any chirping from the nest.
Happy Easter!
Have a great Easter Sunday everyone! I am off to go bluebird hunting again as the weather is clearing up.
Blue Angel
Just in case we don't get any mountain bluebirds over here on the island this year. Here is one from the 2014 archives
Grey Wood Bluebird
Here is another nice portrait shot from the archives. Male mountain bluebird, 2014 Nanaimo Estuary.
Maybe Next Year #2
Here is an image of a male mountain bluebird that never got posted from the spring of 2014. Kind of got skunked this year as regards getting any photos. Maybe next time.
Maybe Next Year?
Here is an image of a male mountain bluebird that never got posted from the spring of 2014. Kind of got skunked this year as regards getting any photos. Maybe next time.
Program Escapee?
Had my first experience with a western bluebird today. I have chased them around for several years now and have not been too successful. I always seem to get to where they are reported after they have gone. Today luck was with me although I did think that I had more of a chance of maybe seeing a mountain bluebird. Judging by his shackles, I would say that this guy might be an escapee from the bluebird re-population program down in Duncan.
I Know Where You Live
Here is an image of one of the many nesting boxes on a bluebird run near Logan Lake. These guys usually just pass through our area at the start of April. This is where they end up. They really are "Mountain Bluebirds" as this shot was taken at around 3500 feet ASL.
Another Good Shoot
Went out today to the estuary and got even more good photos of the mountain bluebirds. Hope you aren't getting too bored with my recent posts as it is kind of a special thing for us out here on the island. Also a big contrast from last year when I could only get a handful of "ho-hum" images.
Over The Shoulder
Love the contrast in the black and blue on the back of the bird. Used Mount Benson for the distant background.
Blue On Blue #2
What can I say? Lots of beautiful photo ops today!
Blue On Blue 2014
Still a couple of male bluebirds out at the estuary today. No need to chase them around as they fed within 30-40 feet on and off for several hours.
Estuary Mountain Bluebird
Lots of these guys passing through the area right now. Gotta love that nice rich blue. Quite common in other parts of western North America but we only see them on Vancouver Island during a few days of Spring migration.
December Bluebird (Mountain Bluebird)
A mountain bluebird, out of season, swoops down from a crabapple branch to snatch an unsuspecting bug.
