western

All posts tagged western

Western Scrub-jay

Posted by Steve Boer on January 7, 2016
Posted in: Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

On our trip to Palm Springs in November we visited the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve again. This jay appeared by the path in almost exactly the same spot as when we were there in February of 2014. So I’m pretty sure it must be the same bird I photographed last time. It’s kind of interesting that a small bird like that would have the same territory for a long time.


Camera: Canon EOS 60D, Exposure Time: 1/500, Aperture: f/8, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 320mm

If you enjoy my photographs please consider making a purchase. All of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to help support our friends volunteering at the Seed of Hope in South Africa which is a great organization really making a difference in the community. Every little bit makes a difference, even a small digital download for your desktop!

Pudgy Bluebird of Happiness

Posted by Steve Boer on March 3, 2014
Posted in: Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

Here’s another shot from the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Ironically, there were more birds in the parking lot area than we saw on the whole hike. This western bluebird was looking very puffed up as he perched on the entrance sign to the hiking trails.

Whenever I think of bluebirds, it always reminds me of a certain Gary Larson Far Side cartoon. There’s a sad-looking guy sitting on the edge of the bed in his dingy apartment with a chicken in the window. The caption reads “The Bluebird of Happiness long absent from his life, Ned is visited by the Chicken of Depression”.

Pudgy Bluebird

Camera: Canon EOS 60D, Exposure Time: 1/500, Aperture: f/5.6, ISO: 200, Focal Length: 400mm

If you enjoy my photographs please consider making a purchase. All of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to help support our friends volunteering at the Seed of Hope in South Africa which is a great organization really making a difference in the community. Every little bit makes a difference, even a small digital download for your desktop!

Western Scrub-jay at Big Morongo

Posted by Steve Boer on February 25, 2014
Posted in: Nature, Photography, Travel, Wildlife. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

A new place in the Coachella valley that we discovered on our last trip, was the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. It’s just a little ways up from Palm Springs on the 29 Palms Highway. It was a nice spot with some good scenery and views. I would say we spotted this jay while hiking there, but it was more like he spotted us. We were walking along and all of a sudden he swooped in right in front of us and perched on a tree less than 10 feet in front of us. I actually had to back up a little to be sure I’d be able to focus on him with my long lens. I expect he was hoping for a handout of some kind as jays in general are often very tame when it comes to accepting food from people.

Western Scrub-jay closeup
Camera: Canon EOS 60D, Exposure Time: 1/640, Aperture: f/5.6, ISO: 250, Focal Length: 400mm

Western Scrub-jay
Camera: Canon EOS 60D, Exposure Time: 1/320, Aperture: f/5, ISO: 160, Focal Length: 170mm

If you enjoy my photographs please consider making a purchase. All of the proceeds from the sale will go directly to help support our friends volunteering at the Seed of Hope in South Africa which is a great organization really making a difference in the community. Every little bit makes a difference, even a small digital download for your desktop!
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