Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Feeling Blue

It's been a sobering couple of weeks. As I regroup my thoughts, I'm certain of one thing: I care deeply about this planet and all the creatures who inhabit it and I will do everything I can to fight for and preserve our natural areas and wildlife.

To see more frequent posts of my wildlife photography, please follow me on Bluesky.  💙

With that in mind, here are a few blue birds.

The Blue Jay is an accomplished mimic, and has been know to trick me into thinking I was hearing a Red-Tailed or Red-Shouldered hawk.

A Blue Jay shows off its beautiful plumage as it looks over its back at the camera.

Male Blue Grosbeaks are always eye-catching with their cobalt blue plumage with rusty red highlights.

A male Blue Grossbeak gets its beak dirty as it munches on seeds on the ground.

I love to watch Blue-Headed Vireos hunt for insects. These birds are usually cooperative for me, posing at mid-level and pausing for the camera.

A Blue-Headed Vireo perches on a small twig and looks straight at the camera with its white-ringed eye.

Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers are more challenging to photograph as they are extremely quick as they hunt flying insects.

A Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher stretches out from a pine twig, waiting to snatch flying insects.

I found this Eastern Bluebird late one afternoon, just chilling and enjoying the sunshine.

An Eastern Bluebird perches on a fence post and gazes into the sunshine.

I saw my first-ever Blue-Crowned Parakeet in Florida. They usually fly in flocks, but this little rebel came over to check me out.

A Blue-Crowned Parakeet seems to smile at us as it flies by. Its body is green, but it has a blue-topped head and a white eye ring.

Don't let the Little Blue Heron fool you into thinking it's not as fierce as its Great Blue Heron cousin - it's a formidable predator in its own right.

A Little Blue Heron quietly steps through the tall grass of a march while looking for prey.

As seen here with an anole lizard in its beak. The lizard put up a good fight, but the heron won this round.

A Little Blue Heron with an anole lizard in its beak. The lizard fights back, grabbing on to the heron's bill, but in the end, the heron wins..

Another Little Blue flies across a golden wetland in the late afternoon sun.

A Little Blue Heron flies over a marsh. The bluish-purple of the heron contrasts with the warm yellow color of the tall grass.

Great Blue Herons are the largest birds in the NYC area (unless you count the occasional Pelican that turns up). I love these birds because they are almost as tall as me.

A Great Blue Heron dives off its perch with wings and legs stretched straight out.

They have such an elegant form.

A Great Blue Heron waits patiently on a rocky beach at the edge of a pond.

Who knew they could be floofy, too?

A Great Blue Heron ruffles its feathers as it stands at the edge of a pond. This makes it look big and floofy.

I met this heron this last Saturday. I came upon it as it argued with another heron, then it flew right up to me and blocked my path. I decided to stay still and wait for it to move out of the way. It ended up holding me hostage for about twenty minutes, but I didn't mind as it gave me time to admire its existence.

A close-up of a Great Blue Heron's face in profile. It is mostly gray with a bright yellow eye and a large pointed bill.

Although not named blue, Common Gallinules appear iridescent blue with tinges of green and gold.

A Common Gallinule steps carefully through shallow water surrounded by leafy green vegetation. Its plumage is iridescent bluish-purple and it has a prominent red shield on its head beween its eyes.

These guys are the unmistakable voice of the wetlands - have a listen to their calls here.

 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment