“When our first encounter with some object takes us by surprise, and we judge it to be new, or very different from what we have previously experienced or from what we expected it to be, this causes us to wonder at it and be astonished.”
— René Descartes, (Descartes The Passions of the Soul Article 53.)
I find seeking that sense of wonder alleviates my despair about our politics and cavalier treatment of nature.
Wanted to show the forehead marking. I adore these birds for their curiosity and intelligence.
No increased vibrance or saturation. As shot from RAW, except to crop slightly.
Photo 1 of 2
Tags: Pacific Northwest wild and free Nikkor 500 f/4 lens Nikon 1.7 teleconverter takeoff winged nature photography bird Nikon D5 selective focus outdoors outside bird photography photo therapy Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri nature conservancy
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But sadly, heading across fields rather than in my direction.
No increased vibrance or saturation. As shot from RAW, except to crop vertically.
Photo 2 of 2
Tags: Pacific Northwest bird in flight wild and free Nikkor 500 f/4 lens Nikon 1.7 teleconverter takeoff winged nature photography bird Nikon D5 selective focus outdoors outside bird photography photo therapy Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Outtake
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It has taken more than three years since we moved from Alaska to see these Steller's Jays in the back forty, but in the last several days a juvenile and parent arrived! Perhaps the trees have grown enough to provide shelter. (Not that stump; we dragged that in for birds.)
We have missed these bright azure and blue intelligent corvids. According to the Cornell website, these are the coastal version, and possibly here all year.
Tags: Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri wild and free Nikkor 500 f/4 lens Nikon 1.7 teleconverter Nikon D5 backlight nature nature photography outdoors outside Pacific Northwest Chara de Steller (Spanish) Geai de Steller (French) coastal juvenile TC-17E II
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This rather tame Stellar's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) seems to resent our Lab rolling in the snow beneath it. It feels so great to have snow here again (for however long it lasts) that I didn't even protect camera or lens. Or wait for light. Felt like a kid racing out in jammies to play!
Nikon D810, Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8, 200mm
1/2500 sec; f/3.2; ISO 640
manual exposure, elbows on open window frame
Thanks for looking!
Tags: Stellar's Jay bird blue Jan Timmons Alaska south-central Alaska Cyanocitta stelleri snow snowing
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A Steller's Jay visits a peanut supply this morning in the rain after the snow. I don’t know where this food cacher stashes his peanuts. These jays carry “some away to store in a cache to help them get through the winter.” www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Stellers_Jay/
"Half black, half blue. Long, black crest. Found in evergreen forests of western United States south through Mexico to Nicaragua. Larger than a robin, smaller than a crow. Populations in the Interior have more white above eye than Pacific populations. Often in flocks and calling frequently. Regularly visits feeders, campgrounds and picnic areas."
ebird.org/species/stejay/
Tags: Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri Chara de Steller Geai de Steller adult coastal wild and free Nikkor 500 f/4 lens Nikon 1.7 teleconverter Nikon D5 outdoors outside nature photography Jobu-Design gimbal head heavy duty tripod photo therapy Pacific Northwest selective focus
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