Blue Bird Couple

[Every Miles A Memory]

There is a blue bird nest just outside the Old Faithful General store and I've been sitting outside watching and trying to get a few good images. Not that it bothers this pair at all, they are so used to the people coming in and out, they'll almost land on the tip of your lens to check you out.

One thing that surprised me most was that they feed the babies non-stop. I mean they are never not flying in and out of the nest to feed them.

http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/photos/587865262_7Nb6J-L-1.jpg
The Father with a juicy grub

http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/photos/587866058_hTros-L-1.jpg
The Mother with a juicy caterpillar

http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/photos/587858392_JSNiD-L-1.jpg
The dad is such a good hunter, he has an ant, and some sort of grub in his mouth at the same time

http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/photos/587862007_tQEfu-L-1.jpg
This shot he was coming in or about to take off, I cant remember which one, but I thought it looked like he was dancing a little jig

Gallery can be seen here (http://everymilesamemory.smugmug.com/gallery/8867792_iwJxz#587865262_7Nb6J) to view at larger sizes

[Photosbychuck]

WOW...Amazing Photos :bow :bow :bow

The focus is spot on.

What lens did you use?

[Maestro]

Very nice. Are these mountain bluebirds, western bluebirds? They are not like the easterns that I have and yes they feed non-stop. I've had two different pairs nesting in my boxes since April and they go through mealworms like nothing flat.

Again, great shots.

[Bud1880]

What beautiful little birds. Nicely detailed shots of a mountain bluebird couple.:thumb

Bud

[Every Miles A Memory]

WOW...Amazing Photos :bow :bow :bow

The focus is spot on.

What lens did you use?

Thanks for the comments, and yes they are Mountain Blue Birds.

I was shooting with a Cnon 30D and a 400 f/2.8 with a 1.4x Converter. With the 1.6 crop factor of the 30D, this lens/converter combo gives me an efective range of somewhere around 894mm or something like that.

I was sitting on the ground about 30-50 feet from them with the lens mounted on a monopod atop a Wimberly Head. Although the Wimberly Head is amazing, these birds are way too fast for my limited skills to catch in flight. Although I blew through a few hundred shots trying to get them flying.

I guess I'll go back to the bigger raptors that are easier to follow in flight:dunno

Thanks for the comments