Birds and Fall Colors.

I know most of you will have to wait a while, to add to this thread, but by that time I'll have snow as a background!

The wild blueberry bush, in my rock garden, is at peak fall red now. Jay and I had a photo shoot between showers today, using it for a background.

Early last spring a moose ate most, of the young shoots, off the top of the bush, so there weren't hardly any berries this fall.

The weather has been too poor for a photo outing recently. The Steller's Jays, in the yard, have been the only birds I've had an opportunity to photograph, between showers.

This message was edited Sep 13, 2008 8:41 PM

This message was edited Sep 13, 2008 8:42 PM

The fall blueberry bush makes a better background, than the pansies did.

All of the rain has turned the moss bright green.

I had been working in the yard when Jay few in, and landed next to me. When I go into the house to get a handful of peanuts, she sits, on the roof, above the door, and waits for me to come back out.

The Lingonberries, locally known as Low-bush Cranberries, add a splash of red to the rock garden.

The Birch trees are starting to turn yellow, and loose their leaves.

Hope you aren't getting tired of seen the Steller's Jays. I haven't had a chance to photograph any other birds in a couple of weeks. I tried to take pictures of a Bald Eagle perched in a tree yesterday. It was so overcast I had to shoot a 1/20 of a second @ F3.6. I couldn't hold the camera steady enough to take an acceptable picture, at such a slow shutter speed.

Wonderful pics Gary! Sounds like you have some great friends there (as long as you have the peanuts).

I have just learned there are at least three other families in the Anchorage area with "pet" Stellere's Jays!

I love seeing your jay...and it looks so pretty with the different colors. It has been hunt and search here for birds.

Stunning! And you found a model that will work for peanuts.

We don't have the S. Jays around here so I could never get tired of your pics.
Do they sound like Blue Jays?

I love those Jays, but I'm not ready to see fall colors. :(

A pair of Trumpeter Swans on Tern Lake, Kenai Peninsula, AK. Photographed in the few hours of good weather this afternoon, between storms. We're now up to the 16th. consecutive day of intermittent rain showers. The record is 17 days, but we're sure to set a new record, no break in sight.

Shan, it has been so long since I've heard a Blue Jay, I don't remember what they sound like.

This message was edited Sep 17, 2008 8:01 PM

Here's the Blue Jay sound.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/audio/Blue_Jay.html

Here's a Stellers Jay.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/audio/Stellers_Jay.html

The High-Bush Cranberry bushes, Viburnum edule, are turning red.

The colors and the chil of fall are in the air. Mountain tops are freshly frosted in white.

Fall colors this afternoon, with out a bird, mile 82 Glenn Hwy, AK.

Those are gorgeous Gary!

They sure are!

Ditto!

Thank you everyone, for the nice comments. The colors are so beautiful, I just can't resist taking more pictures. Just finished another set.

Keep 'em coming, Gary. They are stunning.

They are so beautiful together!!

A kaleidoscope of colors, welcoming in the fall season.

Enjoy the first day of fall today. The beauty of fall colors are already creeping south, along with cooler temperatures.

Love this last pic Gary!

Great nature shots, Gary. Your friendly Steller's Jay sure provides some good photo ops.

Here's something interesting; the thread I was visiting right before this was black and white photography. As if these colors weren't stunning enough on their own, coming up right after a black and white photo, they are amazing!

Well done and I love your model!

I just got back from vacation in Montana and got to see my 1st (and 2nd and 3rd) S.J. ever. It was the one bird I wanted to see most and I was not disappointed!! They are spectacular....

I just love the Northwest. Washington, north Idaho, west Montana.... Alaska - gorgeous!! I would not mine living there. Well, at least in summer!! I don't know about those winters. The most snow I've seen was the Christmas it snowed in Houston - maybe 1-2 inches. And the whole city shut down! I can't imagine driving in several feet of snow.

I don't recall the jays I saw having the little blue lines on the forehead like the ones in your picture. Mine were much darker black over more of the body. Weird, huh?

Beautiful pictures! And beautiful stellar jays!

Incredible colors both of the Jay and the background. Sure wish you'd send that beauty by my house, we just have the Scrub Jays.

We finally got a break between rain showers this afternoon, and I got a few more pictures.

September 1st. was the only day this month that it didn't rain at least part of the day. This is just NOT normally weather, and certainly not good conditions for photography.

The fall colors are at their peak.

One last shot for today.

Great job Gary!

Gary, they are great shots. What stunning colours, both birds and foliage.

Love the last one - reminds me of myself and DH having a difference of opinion.