Western Bluebirds

[EdV]

While hiking in Andrew Molera State Park in Big Sur today, we came across these two Western Bluebirds (male and female) just lounging around a campground. Please excuse their chosen (manmade) perches. The perches were their choice not mine. And they weren't about to move.

I was hiking around with the 30D, 400 5.6, tripod over my shoulder and the XT, 28-135 combo 'round my neck. So aside from looking like a hiking idiot, I was able to shoot these with the 400.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/110_1_1-2.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/097_1_1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/084_1_1.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s1/EdV_02/094_1_1.jpg

[sugarzebra]

You are certainly adding to your life list Ed and these are more great shots. I've never seen a blue bird....they sure have vibrant shades of blue. Big Sur is one of our favourite areas of California, so you are bringing back great memories for my wife & I as we see your shots and hear where you are taking them. My only bad memory was almost falling off a 200 precipice after climbing over a guard rail and walking backwards while trying to get a better angle for a shot of the Bixby Bridge :)

[MikeI]

Fantastic images!! Tack sharp...

Big Sur is a beautiful area.....that whole stretch of central CA coast is gorgeous.

[skylab]

Lovely shots. The blue bird is just smashing. Background is out of the way.

[hTr]

Well Done Ed

Seen em never got a picture though.

[EdV]

You are certainly adding to your life list Ed and these are more great shots. I've never seen a blue bird....they sure have vibrant shades of blue. Big Sur is one of our favourite areas of California, so you are bringing back great memories for my wife & I as we see your shots and hear where you are taking them. My only bad memory was almost falling off a 200 precipice after climbing over a guard rail and walking backwards while trying to get a better angle for a shot of the Bixby Bridge :)

Glad you're enjoying the photos and the trip, Scott. It's been 12 years since we were last here. Some things have changed while others remained the same. Big Sur is very much as we left it. Just as beautiful. Yesterday, we took the docent-led tour up to Point Sur Light Station (well worth the time and the few dollars it cost). We lunched at Nepenthe where we watched a Stellar's Jay stealing French Fries from diner's baskets. Time was slipping away so we headed up to Andrew Molera State Park where we took these photos.

Today we spent the day up in Moss Landing. The Elkhorn Slough Safari boat trip was outstanding. We saw over 100 sea otters in the Slough including a raft of 75 animals. The birds were great. I just hope the photos turned out ok. We will see. We are checking lists but I think we saw at least 10-12 new birds for us. Then we spent the afternoon at Elkhorn Slough Reserve - a great place for birding.

Fantastic images!! Tack sharp...

Big Sur is a beautiful area.....that whole stretch of central CA coast is gorgeous.

Thanks Mike. I appreciate the feedback. Spent the day in Moss Landing today.

Lovely shots. The blue bird is just smashing. Background is out of the way.

Thanks Brian. Glad you like the images.

Well Done Ed

Seen em never got a picture though.

Thanks Gary. I just got lucky. These were the only two I saw on the entire hike.

[Reyno]

Beautiful and well captured images Ed.