Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Blues from the Blind

I hope everyone had a nice Memorial weekend here in the U.S. God bless our military.

Double D and I birded on Saturday (spotted the painted bunting and yellow-breasted chat!), and Sunday afternoon I drove to my dad's in Mississippi so we could fish early on Monday morning. A very relaxing few days. Regular blog visiting to resume today to see what you've been up to. :)

Since I haven't had time to process my photos from the weekend, here are more images of the Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting from inside the tent blind on 4/24/2014.
Blue grosbeak cracking a seed

Indigo bunting getting concerned about my camera clicks.


Edit 8:55PM: A few of you asked about the metal band around the bird's leg. Our local nature center has a banding program to provide important scientific data such as studying bird demographics, identifying important habitats, monitoring the physiological condition of birds, and identifying declining species. I always answer questions asked, but your email address must be enabled on your Blogger profile. Thanks for the comments and questions! I love to get both. :)

Sharing with Anni at

44 comments:

Hootin Anni said...

Gail...all these are stunning!!!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

What wonderfully vivid shots of such a beautiful bird. I can't remember if I told you this or not but a few years ago I had an Indigo Bunting at my feeder for almost an entire summer. Came almost every day :)

The Cranky said...

These are beautiful Gail! I've always had a fondness for blue birds and these are just chock-full of personality. =)

Glad you had a good holiday weekend, and hurrah! for fishing with your father.

Beate said...

Wow! Just by looking at these pictures I can feel the soft feathers - it looks like they're right in front of me so I can touch them gently. Gail, your photography is incredibly amazing! I would love to hang up the second last picture in my apartment - what an amazing shot of this stunningly beautiful bird!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...


That bunting is soooo beautiful.

I've not seen either Tampa-way :(

Suzan said...

Absolutely beautiful!! Love this color of blue! Just noticed that the last bird has a band on its leg.
Assuming that if you could turn off the click sound made by your camera you would. I had a camera at one time that the click sound could be made silent??? Or was that a phone??

Elizabeth Edwards said...

love all the blues. so vibrant.

i have been away on a camping adventure. & now just getting back to replying & talking to you guys again. hope you are well. ( ;

Irma said...

Totally amazing these birds, the colors are so beautiful.
The last two pictures are my favorite.
Greetings Irma

Linda said...

Gail, your photography is totally captivating! I feel as though I am right there viewing these birds myself. Just gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing these lovely bird photos, and your amazing talent!

Karen said...

I love grosbeaks of any colour, they are so cute. The indigo bunting is gorgeous! Brilliant photos Gail!

hootnonny said...

Fantastic, Gail! You can rock that Canon!

TexWisGirl said...

my gosh! your photos just put any of mine to shame! but i'm gonna post 'em anyway (some day). :)

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Beautiful birds!

You sound like me. It always seems to take a lot longer to process the shots than to take them.

Anonymous said...

Daddy is really pretty.

Ruth Hiebert said...

WOW! That Indigo is about the richest and most beautiful blue there is.

DeniseinVA said...

I am so impressed with your close-ups Gail. This Indigo Bunting is a real beauty!

barbara l. hale said...

Amazing photos! Look at that heavenly blue!!

Bas. said...

geweldig mooi wat een kleur en zo mooi scherp.

Unknown said...

OMG that bunting is amazing! and I'm so impressed with that blue grosbeak - we get morning grosbeak, evening grosbeak, and rosie breasted grosbeak - but no blue...

Unknown said...

I am so glad to hear you had such a wonderful weekend.
Thanks for sharing the stunning photographs.

Unknown said...

I am so glad to hear you had such a wonderful weekend.
Thanks for sharing the stunning photographs.

renae said...

That is such an amazing tone of blue on that bird, my gosh!

Thanks for the fun compliments and support. Ya, this chemo #2 was a bit better. But I am completely shaved to the skin. I have many bald spots and then other 5 oclock shadow areas that are visible too. Odd, just plain odd is the best I can describe it.

Glad you got to spend time fishing with your Dad. Love and therapy all wrapped into one, huh?

♥,Renae

Unknown said...

Fabulous shots! The blue colour is so pretty.

Amy Burzese said...

Glad to hear that you had a relaxing holiday weekend. These shots are just wonderful. You really have this down pat. Love seeing your work.

Evelyn S. said...

The blues are simply amazing...and so are your captures!

Inspired By June said...

Wow - that indigo bunting is simply stunning, Gail! Great shot of the grosbeak's tongue. Bird tongues are a little creepy, don't you think? Can't wait to see your shots from the weekend!

FAB said...

Hi Gail.
Astonishingly detailed images from the blind. Just fabulous.

Anonymous said...

Great details, Gail.

It's interesting to see the metal ring on the bird's leg, it's watched.

Melissa said...

They're all so pretty. So much color! And the little on has a band on his leg?

Brian King said...

Gorgeous! I like the band. Great detail in the seed cracking.

eileeninmd said...

Gorgeous Blue bird. Both the Grosbeak and Bunting are lovely, awesome shots.

eileeninmd said...
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eileeninmd said...
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eileeninmd said...

Gorgeous Blue bird. Both the Grosbeak and Bunting are lovely, awesome shots.

Debbie said...

Gorgeous,gorgeous, gorgeous!!! Is the second bird tagged, if you mentioned that I missed it?? Just wondering, maybe something I missed!!

These are really stunning!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love that you caught that one right with the seed in his beak! Such amazing pictures.

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Such vibrant color and great closeups, Gail. I notices what appeared to be a bird band and assume that some club or nature group did the banding to track the movements of these birds.

Unknown said...

WOW!! These are amazing photos. I just love the vivid colors of these birds. I notice that some of the birds here in Hermit Park have bands on there legs as well.. I had my tripod out today trying to get shot of the birds here. But they don't hold a candle to your shots.

Hugs~

Anvilcloud said...

The bunting blue is so beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Now isn't he just a handsome little fellow! Love the blue...so rich in color.

Ida said...

I'm sure this has been said already but oh my that Blue is just amazing! You got some stunning shots of this bird.

orchid0324 said...

Fantastic blues through your camera; I LOVE the one "Indigo bunting getting concerned about my camera clicks". SO adorable♡♡♡

Sending you Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

Anita Johnson said...

I am so in awe of these pictures, I am almost speechless...I have had a new appreciation of birds since my confinement with lyme's disease...what a gift to see such beauty! Your spoonbill pictures are just incredible!

Anonymous said...

Hope it was a successful day fishing.