Stellar's Jay and Clark's Nutcracker

RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
edited March 8, 2006 in Wildlife
Hello all,

Spent the morning trying to chase down birds called Clark's Nutracker. Interesting birds. Their diet consists primarily of pine nut seeds, either fresh or stored. They are known for their ability to remember where they store all their nuts :huh. They are also very loud and have an interesting chatter.


They are difficult, at least for me, to get good shots of. They like to stay high in the trees and move around a lot. I never did get a shot that I'm really happy with, so I've got a good excuse to go back and try again :wink. The image below is the lowest one got in the tree, I would have preferred to get him lower to get a nice level perspective, but oh well!



58550977-L.jpg
EXIF
Camera: Canon 20D
Lens: Canon 500 mm f/4.0 + 1.4xTC

The Stellar's Jay's are pretty easy to get close to, so I took a couple shots of them as well. Although I would have preferred a natural perch, but this guy was just posing away so I couldn't resist :D
58551097-L.jpg
EXIF
Camera: Canon 20D
Lens: Canon 500 mm f/4.0


58551152-L.jpg
EXIF
Camera: Canon 20D
Lens: Canon 500 mm f/4.0

Thank you for looking,
Steve
My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
Selective Sharpening Tutorial
Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)

Comments

  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2006
    well I sure know about going back for a good shot but I fell that way about all of mine :D good shots Steve i can not remember seeing a clarks before and i like shots of the bird doing what it does and were it does it thumb.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2006
    jwear wrote:
    well I sure know about going back for a good shot but I fell that way about all of mine :D good shots Steve i can not remember seeing a clarks before and i like shots of the bird doing what it does and were it does it thumb.gif

    Thank you Jeff, I appreciate you taking the time to give feedback.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 4, 2006
    Real nice Steve. I love those backgrounds. clap.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 5, 2006
    Harryb wrote:
    Real nice Steve. I love those backgrounds. clap.gif

    Thank you Harry.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • ThusieThusie Registered Users Posts: 1,818 Major grins
    edited March 5, 2006
    Both are super Steve. Never have seen a Clark's before and that is about the best shot I've ever seen of a Steller's.
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Thusie wrote:
    Both are super Steve. Never have seen a Clark's before and that is about the best shot I've ever seen of a Steller's.


    Thank you Thusie, appreciate your feedback.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • snapapplesnapapple Registered Users Posts: 2,093 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Both of them are real nice. Great that you got a clear shot of that little guy way up in the tree. And the Jay is so detailed and the light so nice, he almost looks three dimensional. thumb.gif
    "A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds." - Francis Bacon
    Susan Appel Photography My Blog
  • ultravoxultravox Registered Users Posts: 776 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Great shots.
    all 3 are keepers! great wotk.clap.gif
    Cristian.
    [SIZE=-1]It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice. - John Lennon.[/SIZE]
  • BigAlBigAl Registered Users Posts: 2,294 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Another great series Steve. It never ceases to amaze me how you get those super crisp shots.
    Birds
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  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Just awesome!
    Do you take your studio with you out into the field? :D
    Love your work. Respect!
    Russ
  • saurorasaurora Registered Users Posts: 4,320 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Simply amazing shots, Steve! That jay is gorgeous....wish we had them around here! clap.gif
  • bfjrbfjr Registered Users Posts: 10,980 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Hey I like that Stellar Jay (Blue My fav :D)
    but you know Steve I like most if not all you stuff thumb.gif

    Now the Frames ne_nau.gifrolleyes1.gif :lol4 (I'm starting a no Frame kick :lol) cause Bird Man really like em rolleyes1.gif :lol4 rolleyes1.gif
    Benjamin
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  • dallasdallas Registered Users Posts: 1,638 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    I agree Steve with all above. They all are better than what would be my best, with no need to go back. But, of course that's why your pictures are always so special.thumb.gifthumb.gif
    William
    http://woofwoof.smugmug.com
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    riddim_maker wrote:
    Do you take your studio with you out into the field? :D
    Love your work. Respect!


    Sometimes it feels like it lugging The Beast (my 500 mm) and tripod around. thanks for the comments.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    dallas wrote:
    I agree Steve with all above. They all are better than what would be my best, with no need to go back. But, of course that's why your pictures are always so special.thumb.gifthumb.gif


    Thank you Ben, Saurora and William you are all too kind.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • riddim_makerriddim_maker Registered Users Posts: 1,835 Major grins
    edited March 6, 2006
    Absolutely stunning
    Very good ballance between fill and natural light on the Stellar Jay shots.
    #2 is my favorite clap.gifclap.gifclap.gif
    Russ
  • ian408ian408 Administrators Posts: 21,952 moderator
    edited March 6, 2006
    I'm with Harry on this. Very nice backgrounds and nice pitchas!
    Moderator Journeys/Sports/Big Picture :: Need some help with dgrin?
  • jwearjwear Registered Users Posts: 8,013 Major grins
    edited March 7, 2006
    thumb.gif
    Jeff W

    “PHOTOGRAPHY IS THE ‘JAZZ’ FOR THE EYES…”

    http://jwear.smugmug.com/
  • DeeDee Registered Users Posts: 2,981 Major grins
    edited March 7, 2006
    I like the first jay
    with the two posts, it really adds to the 3-D effect. Great background, so complementary to the bird's plumage!
    http://www.deegolden.smugmug.com
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  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 7, 2006
    Dee wrote:
    with the two posts, it really adds to the 3-D effect. Great background, so complementary to the bird's plumage!

    Thank you Dee, Russ, Jeff, Ian I appreciate your comments.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
  • docbelldocbell Registered Users Posts: 110 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2006
    As usual Steve, great shots. The perch and background on the first shot are perfect. I really like the colors in the Blue Jay, and the backgrounds are like butter (smooth).
    Kevin.
  • windozewindoze Registered Users Posts: 2,830 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2006
    wow - so impressive steve!
    they are just so awesome!

    troy
  • CookieSCookieS Registered Users Posts: 854 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2006
    I love the Bokah in the Stellar shots!
  • Osprey WhispererOsprey Whisperer Registered Users Posts: 3,803 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2006
    That Stellar's Jay is neat. I've never seen one before. Nice job, Steve. Thanks for sharing.
    Mike McCarthy

    "Osprey Whisperer"

    OspreyWhisperer.com
  • RohirrimRohirrim Registered Users Posts: 1,889 Major grins
    edited March 8, 2006
    Bird Man Photographer wrote:
    That Stellar's Jay is neat. I've never seen one before. Nice job, Steve. Thanks for sharing.

    Thank you Mike, Kevin, Troy and CookieS. I appreciate your kind words.
    Steve
    My Photo gallery- rohirrim.smugmug.com
    Selective Sharpening Tutorial
    Making a Frame for your image (Tutorial)
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