Mountain Bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted July 1, 2010108 views8 comments

If you "Google" Bickleton WA, you'll learn about the small farming town in eastern Washington that proclaims itself as "The Bluebird Capital of the World." Over the years the town and surrounding ranchers have worked at building and supporting the returning population of both Mountain and Western bluebirds.
This Mountain Bluebird male was captured a couple of days ago and sports the vibrant powder blues of the specie.

LARGER image available, "Thanks for stopping!"

canon 7D
canon 600mm f4.0 IS USM + 1.4TC
F/8 1/500 ISO 200
wimberley head, manfrotto tripod, cable release

Comments

8 comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on July 1, 2010 at 9:36 AM

A beautiful bird! I like the correctness of color, the neutral and complementary background, and the nice catch-light. I wonder if a step smaller focal opening might have gotten good focus on the feet and tail feathers, which are a bit OOF.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on July 1, 2010 at 12:09 PM

Nice, Craig. My wife and I went through there a few years ago without seeing too many, but I think we were a bit early. I'm not sure if that right foot was moving very quickly or is actually oof.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Craig Strand on July 1, 2010 at 1:19 PM

Hi Dennis,
Your right, his right foot is moving, the Lil stinker, after I told him to hold still!

Registered on March 30, 2008, 416 Posts, 2885 Comments

Comment posted by John Tobias on July 1, 2010 at 4:36 PM

Delightful photo. Very nice color. Have you considered a vertical crop? I think it could work well. Thanks for posting.

Registered on September 12, 2009, 2120 Posts, 6455 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Harbour on July 2, 2010 at 1:26 AM

Few birds are as colorful and have such a nice "personality" as the Mountain Bluebird. I love having them around in the summer. Great pose, nice detail, and beautiful capture of the blue color.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 113 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Nate Chappell on July 2, 2010 at 2:10 PM

The blues really shine here Craig

Registered on February 1, 2006, 1158 Posts, 19528 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 4, 2010 at 1:58 PM

Dan, I find the alert pose of the bluebird appealing. I like the natural blues presented and the nice hue of the background. Agree about the movement of the foot, but it does not ruin the image for me.

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on July 10, 2010 at 1:21 PM

Excellent feather details Craig, the color is perfect too. Great BG & comp, nice catchlight there..
You did this little blue beauty justice,
Very well done

Registered on July 24, 2008, 1201 Posts, 10758 Comments