Mountain Bluebird

Trying to capture birds in flight take an extra effort and not many keepers. Smaller the bird the harder it is. When I try to get their pictures perched, they never seem to stay in a spot long enough and when in flight they never seem to take a predictable route. With the Mountain Bluebirds, I had five birds to work with as they were picking off insects between perching in an open field. I was trying to take their picture just as they flew from their perch. If they did not catch any insects, they would perch for a few seconds, before they were off again. I would be clicking as soon as I though they were about to fly. But before that, I would compose the picture and I would hope they would go in the direction they were looking at. I never use a tripod or any support for the camera, I need to be able to move quickly in any direction. As well, look toward the bluebird that was near me. After about two hours with the camera near my face, so I can react quickly, the shoulders were hurting. But when I looked at the few keepers, it was a great way to get a shoulder workout. 

Mountain Bluebird 200529 Amar Athwal.jpeg

Mountain Bluebird

One of the highlight of birding in Banff National Park is having a chance to see the beautiful Mountain Bluebird. I came across this male in a meadow, first spotted perched on top of a burned stump. Its bright colour got my attention and I quickly snapped several pictures. It was looking toward the ground, searching for insects to feed on. After few minutes it found a snack and then it found a different perch. Providing a better picture.

 


Until nest moment, 

Amar

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

I was out there just after the sun rose, looking to take pictures of birds. I could hear and or see several species, but my attention was grabbed by a male Mountain Bluebird. He was busy eating insects and in between perching and singing. I placed myself between its range that morning and started taking its pictures. His sky-blue colour would pop under the sun, particularly with the green background provided by the green foliage. Not a bad way to spend the morning.

Until next moment,

Amar

Mountain Bluebird

Mountain Bluebird

I was heading for a location to shoot a sunset when I noticed a bird flying from the bottom of a young spruce to its top. I was the only one on the road, no other car visible, I slowed down to see what bird it was. It was a Mountain Bluebird, a juvenile. Looking at it from the driver seat was difficult to separated it from the cloudy blue sky, thinking, would it be still perched there while I grabbed my camera from the back seat. I took a chance, parked the car off the road and using the car as a blind grabbed my camera and started shooting from a standing position to get a greener background. Within minutes vehicles  from both direction were coming to my location, could hear them slowing as those inside them I'm sure were trying to figure out what I was shooting. Before they got close enough to stop, I was in my car to keep my appointment, after all sunset waits for no one.

Until next moment,

Amar