Wings Down in The Sage (Lazuli Bunting)
Last lazuli shot for this year, I promise! A better background on this shot with more of the typical vegetation found around the Tranquille River.
Coming in Hot! (Lazuli Bunting)
You may wonder why a lot of my perching shots are taken at such a high shutter speed. I am always hoping for flight shots like this one and these guys can be wicked fast and unpredictable. Desert and sage brush background.
Zipping Through The Scrub (Lazuli Bunting)
Found one last flight shot of the lazuli bunting flying at high speed through the scrub in the desert. They are whippy fast and somewhat unpredictable. This shot taken near the Tranquille River just outside of Kamloops. Better late than never I guess.
Trailhead Guardian (Lazuli Bunting)
This male Lazuli bunting seemed to always be there to greet us at the beginning of the Tranquille River Trail near Kamloops.
Singing in The Storm (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is an image with a more natural perch. You can't tell by this photo but there was a big wind storm going on at the time I took this shot. Felt sorry for this little guy as he could barely hold on to the branch.
Bunting Bullet 2024 (Lazuli Bunting)
A lazuli bunting zooms through the leaves on the Tranquille River near Kamloops.
Bird on a Wire 2024 (Lazuli Bunting)
Found this little beauty at one of my favorite birding spots at Cinnamon Ridge near the Kamloops Airport.
Bunting Glide (Lazuli Bunting)
Buntings will often fly short distances with rapid wing beats and their wings partially tucked like this.
Full Wing Spread (Lazuli Bunting)
When ever I am in Kamloops this time of year I always try to make a special effort to visit the lazuli buntings in Tranquille. Always a pleasure to shoot.
A Flash of Blue in The Shadows (Lazuli Bunting)
Another image from Tranquille.
Lazuli Bunting Bullet
Another one for my bullet bird collection. Taken out near the Kamloops airport at Tranquille.
Singing in The Shade (Lazuli Bunting)
Made one last visit to my old buddy at Cinnamon Ridge to find him singing up a storm in the shade on a cottonwood tree branch.
Lazuli Bunting in Flight
Taken at Cinnamon Ridge near the Kamloops Airport.
Lazuli Flight Shot (Lazuli Bunting)
The light was a bit harsh that day but I did my best to get a couple of flight images of the lazuli bunting. Pretty quick little guys. Like photographing a warbler.
Tranquille Lazuli Bunting
A couple of these guys hanging around the biking trail near Cinnamon Ridge in Kamloops.
Just in Case (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is a nice one from "Steve's Stash" of a lazuli bunting. Just in case we don't make it to the interior again this year. Although there is one presently down island somewhere right now.
Singer From The Archives (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is the type of Lazuli Bunting images we got last year at Tranquille Near Kamloops. Great day with no harsh sunlight. This photo was never posted previously. Was hoping to get something like this in Victoria yesterday but no such luck. We will probably not be making the trip to Kamloops this year because of the ongoing pandemic. Keeping my fingers crossed that restrictions will ease sometime in July but who knows.
Natural Perch (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is another image of a lazuli bunting in a more natural setting.
Good Light Today (Lazuli Bunting)
It was much cooler and the light was more even today at Cinnamon Ridge. Lots of cooperative birds there including lazuli buntings, western kingbirds, bullocks orioles and catbirds. Stay tuned for more images to come!
Lazuli Portrait (Lazuli Bunting)
Found another nice lazuli bunting image from our trip to Kamloops.
Music From The Cherry Tree (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is our cooperative little buddy at Tranquille near the Kamloops Airport. Lots of nice birds on the bike trail there across from the Cinnamon Ridge Composting Facility.
Lazuli In Sage Brush (Lazuli Bunting)
Hard to get a shot of these guys in the sage brush as they always seem to want to hide down low. On this particular occasion the bunting came to the top for a couple of seconds and I was able to grab this image.
Morning Serenade (Lazuli Bunting)
Here is a nice frontal view of that pretty little lazuli bunting. Sings kind of like a yellow warbler on steroids. Not too sure how this will look to you as I am doing all the processing right now from the laptop.
Lazuli in The Leaves (Lazuli Bunting)
I am here in Kamloops shooting with Pius Sullivan and Dave Pley. We really overdosed on lazuli buntings today. One very cooperative bird stayed with us for a couple of hours. Just amazing perches and great colors!
Lazuli Bunting #2
Came upon another bunting image this morning from my stop over at Island 22 Park in Chilliwack. They have a distinct song and once you are accustomed to it they are much easier to spot.
Island 22 Park Lazuli Bunting
Stopped in at Island 22 park to get some images of the buntings there on my way back to Nanaimo from Kamloops. The Fraser River is sure getting high!
Blue On Blue (Lazuli Bunting)
One to contrast to all of the yellow and black birds I have posted lately. Taken in 2015 when the lazuli buntings were more cooperative.
Afternoon Snack (Lazuli Bunting)
The lighting was pretty harsh yesterday but I did my best with this image. Love the blue and the red together.
Mr. Shackles
They have quite an extensive banding program at Colony Farm. Not too sure what the different colours mean. It was kind of interesting that I took this picture within a few feet of where I photographed this same bird last year.
A Different Background
Another singing image. Not sure if I like the blue background or this one with the leaves. I feel that this one has a bit more detail and is down lower as well. Can't believe how tiny these guys are. About the size of a goldfinch. This picture depicts the bird at several times real size not to mention what you see when you click on the image.
Down On The Farm 2015
Met up with my Flickr buddy Nick today at Colony Farm and did a bit of "bunting hunting". When the day was done I had seen four lovely males including "Mr. Shackles" - picture to follow.
Down on the Farm
Here is a Lazuli Bunting image from my latest trip to Colony Farm in Coquitlam. This is the first time outside of Kamloops that I have photographed one. We don't see them much if at all on the Island. They have quite an active banding program over on the mainland judging by the shackles he is wearing.
Singing Up a Storm (Lazuli Bunting)
You can often find these guys by listening for their song. It is similar to a gold finch with a few variations. There were quite a few like this near the Kamloops airport along one of the favorite biking trails.
Kamloops Lazuli Bunting
Got this little fellow on the way to the Lac Du Bois grasslands.
