Mountain Bluebird

Gallery: AvianPosted July 28, 201196 views12 comments

Kind of a weird spot for a mountain bluebird, but in the scads of these guys I found in NW South Dakota last weekend, a couple were acting like flycatchers along this gravel road, fluttering up to catch bugs, but then coming down and sitting in the warm morning sun between feeding.

Canon 50D, 400 5.6L, 1/2000, f8. This one cropped from horizontal. Had some even closer ones shot as vertical, but I liked the pose in this one much better than the others.

Comments

12 comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on July 28, 2011 at 10:44 PM

Rockin' detial and a sweet headturn. The blues pop beautifully - would be better without those clumps of OOF soil but minor nit on this unique Mountain BB shot

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Ralph Kerr on July 28, 2011 at 11:12 PM

Nice, Terry. I ditto Luke's comments. A real beauty

Registered on January 30, 2007, 369 Posts, 852 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Gulash on July 29, 2011 at 12:13 AM

What Luke said, great pose. I'm envious that you see "scads" of these guys, I see individual birds or pairs if I look in specific locations - at the right time. It would be great if you could capture one hovering in flight as they go about their bug catching.

Registered on January 28, 2005, 879 Posts, 12098 Comments

Comment posted by Brian Gatlin on July 29, 2011 at 9:46 AM

nice head turn, dof and detail, Terry. love those blues. the dirt clod that overlaps the tail is a minor nit but not a big one.

Registered on March 21, 2009, 202 Posts, 4187 Comments

Comment posted by Sharon Hallowell on July 29, 2011 at 9:48 AM

Superb detail and the bg, although dirt, kind of makes this unique! Well done. Sharon

Registered on November 1, 2003, 392 Posts, 4810 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Huff on July 29, 2011 at 11:50 AM

A really awesome shot Terry. Nice color, exposure, and detail. No problem posting when you did with me. Gald you did, it shows me that I still have a ways to go, to get to your level. Thanks for your comments on my posting. I really appericate you taking the time to help.

Ron Huff

Registered on August 31, 2010, 69 Posts, 440 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Marquart on July 29, 2011 at 9:33 PM

Good detail and nice head turn. Good aperture choice to get the bird sharp head to rump.

Registered on October 24, 2009, 126 Posts, 799 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on July 29, 2011 at 10:11 PM

Really beautiful Terry, great head turn, lovely natural colors and eye contact. The OOF areas don't keep me from focusing on this bluebird.

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

Comment posted by David Hemmings on July 30, 2011 at 9:11 AM

stunning view of those beautiful colors, well done

Registered on May 26, 2006, 178 Posts, 1680 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on July 31, 2011 at 8:22 PM

I love the colors of this bird against the reds in the setting Terry. Great head turn and nice detail. I think f/8 was just about right here.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on August 1, 2011 at 12:09 PM

Very interesting composition to display those wonderful blue feathers. I like the head turn and the feather detail on the larger image is great. Nice job in getting this shot, well done.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments

Comment posted by Howard Cheek on September 30, 2011 at 8:38 PM

Great view of the birds back side and yes, it's "kind of a weird spot for a bluebird"

Love the head turn, nice details and it stands out well. Kinda like the soil with its mix of red clay too.
I haven't seen any bluebirds here in Central Texas for 3 or 4 years..
Well composed closeup frame - Well done & have a good weekend

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