Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay perched on an oak – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/2000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TX, natural light, not baited
I love Jays. I love how smart they are. I love their flashy colors when they are on the wing. I love their calls. I love how they seem to travel in families. And I also love how bold they are.
Except when I try to photograph them. They usually fly away once that big lens is pointed at them.
Last month I was able to photograph this Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay on my way up to Cascade Springs in Wasatch County, Utah as it perched on an oak near the road. I am not sure if this is a White Oak or a Gambel’s Oak but I do know that acorns from oaks are their primary food source.
I was tickled to get the images of this Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay that crisp early fall day in the Wasatch Mountains because they have been a nemesis bird for me as far as photographing them. I was just as happy to get images of this bird as I was the juvenile American Dippers I also photographed that morning.
But then I am always happy to have birds in my viewfinder.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay photos plus facts and information about this species.
Western Scrub-Jays became Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays in July of 2016
Such a great image.. great detail and color but it is the overall composition of your shots that make them special.
The qualities you love are the very ones I love too, which make jays and crows my favorite to watch. This appears to be a juvenile; I’ve never seen the fluffy grey feathers before. Nice image!
Awesome photo! Thank you 🙂