Mountain Bluebird, Pumpkin Sky 10-31-09We took a ride to Three points, Arizona last Saturday to visit Buckelew Farms Pumpkin Patch. After my 18 month old grandson picked out his first pumpkin and after petting the animals in the petting zoo we headed back to the car to head home. While Xavier's parents were changing his diaper and buckling him into the car seat I was distracted by a flash of blue in the dirt field where were were parked. To my utter amazement I discovered a small flock of Mountain bluebirds! A male and 3 females fluttered about landing on the orange cones and fencing or hovering in the air hunting insects. They showed no fear of us and actually came quite close. It was my first time seeing this species here in Arizona and only the 4th or 5th time I have seen them in my life! I have not seen one at all since moving here 2 1/2 years ago. Then, when I went to submit this count to eBird, I discovered they are not even expected to be here. Yet here they are and I have pictures to prove it!
Buckelew Farm Pumpkin Patch 10-31-09
Female Mountain Bluebird 10-31-09
Male Mountain bluebird 10-31-09
Bluebird in a Blue Sky 10-31-09(click on any photo to enlarge it)
Go visit!
29 comments:
Your birds in flight are magnificent! Brilliant photography...I love the beautiful blue with the orange...so beautiful!
Amazing photo's Kathie...sorry I haven't been able to visit for a while but I am having trouble with blogger....I was unable to open your blog as well as others and even my own.......:-) Hugs
Carolyn, thank you so much. I was so amazed by this photo when I got it uploaded. I love the contrast in colors and the flight of the bird! I just had to use it for Skywatch since it is a perfect sky blue!
Bernie, I am so sorry! I hate it when blogger gives me trouble like that! I hope it works itself out soon!
Lovely shot of the male Mountain Bluebird Kathie. The female standing looks very much like our Wheatear.
Beautiful, beautiful photos, Kathie!
What a startlingly blue bird it is. You must be quick on the draw to get such great shots, and what an experience!
I love your bird pictures, especially the last one in flight. Is that a real big pumpkin in the field?
...your first photo is absolutely spectacular. That flash of bright blue against its complement of orange is gorgeous. I love little surprises like that!! It's a total rush...
Gorgeous shots, Kathie! Beautiful blue skies -- perfect background for your lovely, lovely birds!
Have a great weekend!
Sylvia
It's great to see mountain bluebirds light up a desert or grassland! I regularly saw large flocks of them when I worked near Sonoita one winter. Thanks for the reminder!
What a treat to see them, and the color in the top one. Beautiful to have them in your skies!
Mountain Bluebirds! How exciting!-and what a great shade of blue. Nice flight capture too.
Kathie I truly enjoyed all these images especially seeing the pumpkin patch w/ mountains in the distance! Nice to see that AZ is not all cacti and desert!
Thank you for your continued support while I heal...perhaps we'll meet in person in March as I do have plans to winter and continue healing in sunny Arizona!!
Love the first one too, your bird photos keep getting better and better every time I visit you, fantabulous Kathy!
Beautiful blue birds Katherine! And what a pumpkin pathc - lots for the choosing there :)
Happy SWF :)
What beautiful bluebird captures! Thee one in flight is especially awesome!
kathie, those flight pictures are amazing. The first one grabbed me right away - it's just perfect.
What beautiful photos Kathie, you reminded me of my first (and only) sighting of a Mountain Bluebird and I too was quite spellbound by its incredible intensity of colour.
Did you get the email I sent you about meeting up in Arizona?
Your amazing eyes capture some real beauty.
Yet another amazing sighting Kathie. That male bluebird in flight is an excellent capture. Plus what a nice contrast with the bright orange fencing and background. I see the Western Bluebird all summer on the North Rim.
simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!
They are beautiful, Kathie.
Wasn't that your lucky day.
Roy, I know we get wheatears in America sometimes but I have never seen one.
Bobbie and Arija, thank you, thank you!
Margret Cloud, nice to see you! No, that is a fake pumpkin but it sure looks real from this angle!
Kelly, I so agree!
Sylvia, thank you!
Max, I have never seen any in Sonoita! Now you've got me curious!
Deborah, they are so striking!
Thanks Larry!
Nature girl, I would love to meet you! Just let me knwo when you are here!
Bookbabie, thank you so much!
Evita, thanks for visiting!
Louise and Wren, I was so surpised when it came out so well! Thanks!
Celeste, I did get your email. did you get my response?
Gaelyn, How lucky you are to see them!
Sandy, Flying Stars and thank you all for your very kind and thoughtful comments!
Oh What beautiful blue birds, and you have caught them perfectly specially against the orange fence net. So lucky to find them where they were not supposed to be!
Bluebirds are among my own personal favorites. You did a fantastic job of photographing them. Awesome!
Hi Kathie,
That male Mountain Bluebird is an attractive bird, and your pics are beautiful.
Glennis, thank you! That orange fence was such a bonus!
Quiet paths, thank you too!
Gallicissa, so nice to see you again. I am so glad you came to visit me today and that you got to see this amazing little bluebird!
I agree - that first photo is magnificent. WOW!!!! All of them!!!
I agree - that first photo is magnificent. WOW!!!! All of them!!!
Post a Comment