Male Mountain Bluebird at the edge of a forest – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday I had a blast photographing a pair of Mountain Bluebirds at a natural nesting cavity at the edge of a forest along with some other woodland birds. On one of my last trips to this area I spotted a Northern Flicker checking out an old nesting cavity in the area and I wanted to see if any secondary cavity nesting birds had decided to use it to nest in this breeding season.
At first there were four Mountain Bluebirds in the general location of the nesting cavity and they appeared to be having a prolonged territorial skirmish. After several skirmishes one pair of the Mountain Bluebirds left the area. My photos show the mated pair that remained near the nesting cavity.
Mountain Bluebird shadow on an Aspen – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This photo shows the shadow of one of the bluebirds on the trunk of the aspen tree that has the nesting cavity. I quite liked seeing the shadow falling on the tree and had to photograph it.
Mountain Bluebird male close up – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/400, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The male and female Mountain Bluebirds moved around from tree to tree and branch to branch. Sometimes they perched so close that all I could do was take close up portraits of them. I’m glad the bluebirds approached as close as they did because I think portraits show wonderful details.
Female Mountain Bluebird looking up at her mate – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The behavior of the male and female Mountain Bluebirds made it very obvious that they were a mated pair. In this photo the female is looking at her mate who landed on a branch above her.
Male Mountain Bluebird inside a nesting cavity – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1000, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Both the male and female bluebirds checked out the nesting cavity frequently and defended it from a House Wren that seemed determined to take over the nest. The House Wren sang continuously in the area and when it got too close to the nesting cavity the Mountain Bluebirds chased it away. Repeatedly. I tried several times to get photos of the wren but I always had something in the way and couldn’t get a clear view of it.
Mountain Bluebird female with nesting materials – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The female Mountain Bluebird spent time gathering nesting materials and placing them inside the nesting cavity when she wasn’t perched on the branches of the trees on the warmth of the morning sun. She has quite a bill full of grasses in this photo.
Spring male Yellow-rumped Warbler in an Aspen – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
As I photographed the pair of bluebirds other woodland birds caught my eyes and I trained my lens on them too. When this male Yellow-rumped Warbler in breeding plumage appeared on one of the aspens that has already started to leaf out I took a short series of images of him.
Female Mountain Bluebird gathering nesting materials – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The female bluebird gathered grasses from along the edge of the recently graded dirt road and when she found what she was looking for she’d fly to the nesting cavity with it to line her nest.
Regal adult male Mountain Bluebird – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 500, +0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The male bluebird watched the female gathering nesting materials and kept an eye out for the pesky House Wren. When the wren got too close to the nest the male bluebird chased it off.
Adult Chipping Sparrow during breeding season – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
There were several Chipping Sparrows in the area flying back and forth across the road, chasing each other and singing from the tops of nearby junipers. They looked so dashing in their breeding plumage that when they landed within range I took their photos too. They look sharp even perched on a clod of dirt the grader left at the side of the road.
Chipping Sparrow and spring Aspen leaves – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/200, ISO 500, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Or perched in an aspen with newly unfurled leaves. In the shadows. From a distance.
Mountain Bluebird male looking up at its nest – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The male Mountain Bluebird appeared to like this perch that was below the nesting cavity because he landed on it several times. I liked how the morning light lit him up along with the bark of the aspens in the background.
Adult House Wren singing in a forest – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And after trying several times I was finally able to photograph the determined, pesky House Wren singing through a gap in the branches of a juniper. Mission accomplished.
After viewing the photos that I took at home I realized that if I hadn’t gone up into this canyon a while back to get out of a photographic rut while trusting my instincts I might have missed out on taking these photos and the hundreds of others I have taken up there.
Life is good. Stay safe.
Mia
Bird finding tip: Just because a location isn’t birdy one time that doesn’t mean it is bird-less all the time. My advice is to go back, check it out again, in a different season or a different time of day. From one day to the next or from one season to another the level of bird activity can be very different.
Click here to see more of my Mountain Bluebird photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see all of my bird photos.
Simply extraordinary series of pics. Every one of them is worthy of a frame…but the female Bluebird in the knothole is a real showstopper. Thanks Mia.
MIA!!! That was some trip!,, LOVED IT ALL!!! Could hardly believe my eyes the first time I saw a Mountain Bluebird…so drop dead BEAUTIFUL!!!
Wonderful photos! Such a plethora of gorgeous colors. I’ll bet being among all that singing was a true delight. 😀
great series of perching birds. Thx Mia
Oh what a beautiful morning…
Thank you for sharing the wonders (even though I now have a persistent air worm to contend with (and no squirrels to clear it away for me).
Great shots, Mia. The Mountain Bluebirds certainly mean business. Thanks so much for sharing.
I love this series of the Bluebirds! They have so much personality. And you managed to get some unique shots. It’s almost as if they were posing for you. I grew up with Bluebirds and Cardinals and the Cardinals were my favorite because red was my favorite color. But revisiting the Bluebirds has renewed my interest. The blues are so vibrant. And they just have a cuteness about them. Obviously, you had a wonderful day, so be safe and maybe visit the Bluebirds again.
Excellent photo series! You’ve got some great Bluebird photos. The House Wren is also very nicely photographed.
These are wonderful. I love the bird shadow on the tree trunk by the nesting cavity. The so many to like I can’t pick a favorite. I hope you will be photographing their nestlings next!
Great photos, Mia. Wish we had bluebirds around here.
These images are gorgeous!
I agree with everything that Lynnette said. The male Mountain Bluebirds are so wonderfully blue. Love the shadow photo.
Mia: I love this series! Bluebirds are one of my favorite birds & your photos of them are terrific. So glad you were able to get out & soak up some nurturing nature.