Gray Jay

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I made this one back when I lived in Massachusetts. This was the only Gray Jay I have ever seen there. This guy was so trusting that he landed next to me and took a peanut out of my hand. I read that they use their sticky saliva to glue food on trees above the expected snow line for storage. I bet squirrels like that idea, too. :)

Maybe you can see the piece of ice that he holds with his right foot which he ate shortly afterward. I don't find the angle of the perch ideal but there was not much I could have done about it.



1D3, 500f4, 1.4x, 1/1000s, f/8, ISO 400

[Manos Papadomanolakis]

Sweet pose......and a beautiful bg!!!

[Betsie Storm]

Axel, thanks for sharing this one and the story- always great to get the background info, especially on a species not familiar with. The whites look good, beautiful soft light.

[Jim Fenton]

Cool bird in nice light :)

I wish for just a bit less of a head turn to expose the end of the bill more.

Plumage from the head down looks just a tad oversharpened?

[Danny J Brown]

Hi Axel: I love the way the little guy is hanging off the end of the perch making for a nice composition and rusty bokeh makes it a sweet shot. We don't have gray jays in Missouri so nice to see a shot of one. Thank you.

[Doug Brown]

The light is very nice and you've got good detail in the plumage. I agree with your self-critique about the angle of the perch, and I would add that I wish the bird were looking ever so slightly away from you.

[James Salywoda]

Great bg pose and details Axel a real nicely composed shot.

[Raul Quinones]

Great exposure control, killer background and nice sharpness.

I have to admit that my first reaction was, "How the he11 this guy always manage to get this kind of picture every time"... but it was a bit of jealousy, now I am fine.

Saludos, Raul

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great exposure control, killer background and nice sharpness.

I have to admit that my first reaction was, "How the he11 this guy always manage to get this kind of picture every time"... but it was a bit of jealousy, now I am fine.

Saludos, Raul

Thanks, Raul! With this bird I was just really persistent. I had to climb a very steep hill and went there a couple of times because it is so rare to find this species in Massachusetts. Sharing my peanuts with him helped, too. :)

[Juan Carlos Vindas]

Love the light and BG in this one Axel. I am not a big fan of the perch.

[Harshad Barve]

Beautiful species and equally beautiful image , perch angle do not bother me much as my eyes are rivetted on subject
TFS

[Nicki Gwynn Jones]

Hi Axel,
Sweet shot and lovely story - I do like the ice, this takes this over the top for me!
Best,
Nicki

[Stu Bowie]

Comp works well, and I quite enjoy birds perched on the end of their perches. Good HA, and overall, nice and sharp.

[Kiran Poonacha]

cute Bird bhai, loved the light and details here, good BG too.. Congrats..