The Bluebird!

[mnhtnbb]

This Bluebird has been visiting my courtyard for months. And for months I have tried to get a shot of him. Never the right spot. Never the right light. Never stays put long enough...y'all know the drill.

This morning I spotted him on the railing just outside my bedroom window. The light was perfect. I was in the kitchen where I keep my camera on the counter. Grabbed it, shot through the dining room window. Eh. Then he flew away. Stymied again. Then he returned. I took the camera and decided to try and sneak up on him to shoot through the sliding glass door in my bedroom. He not only posed, but turned, and turned again!

It is just amazing what something like this does for my spirits. Pissy day yesterday and what happens? The Bluebird rewards me today.

Here he is in my best 3 of 15 shots.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Oh he's beautiful!

I can totally relate to the elation of finally capturing an elusive subject in a photo! These are wonderful!

[mnhtnbb]

9. I was so delighted to FINALLY get a decent

shot. And he stayed put so I could get more thane one!

[BComplex]

2. Such a sweet gift!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

[mnhtnbb]

10. Thank you for stopping by!

[niyad]

3. The bluebird of happiness is clearly posing for you. A beautiful little being.

[mnhtnbb]

11. That's exactly how I thought of him this am!

[hermetic]

4. Who's a pretty bird?

Nice.

[mnhtnbb]

12. Yes!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

5. Congrats on your great shots, my dear mnhtnbb!

Birds are so tough to photograph that I basically don't try.

I admire your persistence!

[mnhtnbb]

13. I have very few good bird shots, Peg.

I need a telephoto lens for my camera because most times I can't get close enough for a good shot.

And they move so quickly, that there isn't time to be switching lenses most of the time. I'd have to lie in wait.

So most of my good shots are serendipity. Like this morning.

[George McGovern]

6. Wonderful mnhtnbb!

[mnhtnbb]

14. Thanks!

[Major Nikon]

7. I set up my bluebird house in the early spring

They generally don’t go too far away while a pair is nesting and they don’t seem to be too bothered by people.

[mnhtnbb]

15. I'm in an HOA where putting up a birdhouse

will require approval from on high! This guy has been hanging around all spring and summer. I've seen him with his girlfriend, too.

[Major Nikon]

18. Not sure how they would know

So long as it’s not visible from the street I don’t know why they would care.

I have mine mounted to a steel pipe which is threaded to another steel pipe installed below grade. In mid-summer I take it down till early spring. It also makes it pretty much impervious to pests.

[MichaelSoE]

8. How Wonderful

I have only seen 1 bluebird in my lifetime. Apparently once abundant in NJ, where I lived for 55 years, but the nesting habitat was destroyed by invasive starlings. They started programs to build bird houses for the blues when they discovered that if they made the entrance hole a certain diameter, the blues would find it suitable but the starlings were just a bit larger and were unable to take over the nests.

[mnhtnbb]

16. I grew up in NJ.

Chatham. I remember bluebirds. We left for California in 1965 when my dad retired. No more eastern bluebirds until we moved here to NC in 2000. I do enjoy seeing this guy every day.

[MichaelSoE]

17. born in Teaneck ... moved to Flemington @ age 6 and resided there for 49 years

[Major Nikon]

19. House sparrows are a big problem

You can’t adjust the hole size to keep them out. Best to have a hinged inspection door so you can remove house sparrow nests.

[alfredo]

20. Poor boy, he's molting. He might be a little cranky.