The other afternoon we heard a screeching outside, rough and ragged, shrill. It went on for a few minutes. The crows must be mad at Bootsie, I remember telling Gar.
They sure are giving him heck.
And they sound like they are recovering from Laryngitis.
Then just yesterday when I was busy at my drafting desk, I heard the same shrill screeching. Out on the branches of the giant Rhody were a pair of brilliant blue Steller's Jays.
Busy telling everyone in earshot how upset they were that we did not include peanuts in our contraband birdseed.
I guess they felt that the buffet was just not up to their standards, since they never stuck around long enough for me to grab the camera. They seem to be coming and going, a little camera shy, but loud, very badly behaved tourists, finishing up their winter vacation in White Rock.
I've got to send Gar out to get some peanuts, or whatever these picky eaters prefer. Somehow I am sure that I would not want to be in the kitchen when they send back the meal.
Then just yesterday when I was busy at my drafting desk, I heard the same shrill screeching. Out on the branches of the giant Rhody were a pair of brilliant blue Steller's Jays.
Busy telling everyone in earshot how upset they were that we did not include peanuts in our contraband birdseed.
I guess they felt that the buffet was just not up to their standards, since they never stuck around long enough for me to grab the camera. They seem to be coming and going, a little camera shy, but loud, very badly behaved tourists, finishing up their winter vacation in White Rock.
I've got to send Gar out to get some peanuts, or whatever these picky eaters prefer. Somehow I am sure that I would not want to be in the kitchen when they send back the meal.
....wish we got such interesting birds - even if they do make a racket!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos Jen - the first one is exquisite.
Well I had to look up Steller Jays, very pretty bird but description does sound quite annoying. Do you get them alot? I'm just getting quite an education here at Muddy Boots.
ReplyDeleteLove that first flower, what is it?
So stunning and happy.
I love your take on things. Great perspective.
ReplyDeleteYou are too funny! Great photos as usual...
ReplyDeletehaha I love the way you look at things! Anyone else would have just said...man those birds were loud!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos Jen! I've only seen photos of Stellar's Jays - what beautiful (if noisy) birds they are!
ReplyDeleteOur Jays are beautiful though less brilliantly-colored in Illinois. They make quite a racket, and send nesting songbirds home in a hurry to protect their broods.
Crows don't disturb the peace around here as much since west nile came to our area. Sad in a way, but I don't miss the racket.
Stunning flowers...and I love your bird story!! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! And blue jays - the screeching birds of happiness!??
ReplyDeleteThose jay won't stay shy for long if you give them peanuts. We fed some on our deck regularly. One hot summers day with the back door open I came walking down the hallway to see one sitting on my lamp. I hadn't put the nuts out yet and he wanted to know why!!!
ReplyDeleteMy poor cat was afraid of them.
I wish we had Stellar Jays instead of our Crows..The Eagles are back..I am hoping to capture them on film..a tall order for me! The flower photos are wonderful..love the first one..maybe it is just a purple kind of day! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jen - thanks for your lovely comments on my blog and for your fabby photos on yours!
ReplyDeleteI am actually called Liz. Ruth is First-Born, but is named on my blog because she's been doing alll the techi stuff like the coloured borders and the header. This blogging lark was all her idea!
Phenomenal shades of flowers you have today! I saw a bluejay at one of my feeders the other day. Didn't get a good shot of him. Had forgotten they're so big!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
They can definitely be a noisy lot. They were my favorite bird to imitate when I was a kid and we lived in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Now, when I hear their call it takes me right back to being a kid.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Do you live in White Rock BC? The Stellars Jays are beautiful birds. I enjoy looking at them, but I do wish their voices were as beautiful as they are.
ReplyDeleteYour flower pictures are so beautiful. Are these flowers that are around right now? Or older photos?
Jen, I've seen photos of the Jays in your garden...we have a our own raucous boys and girls who hog the food at the feeder. They are excellent for sounding an alarm to the other birds when a hawk shows up and for that I am appreciative. Your photos are excellent! gail
ReplyDeleteIts true, a beautiful bird, graceful in flight, captivating in color and dominating at the feeder. I think that if I ever moved from here Stellar's Jays would be on a list of things I would greatly miss. Beautiful flowers the blue ones captured the essence of the indignant bird.
ReplyDeleteJays love peanuts and sunflower seeds. Mine eat both(-: They are kinda hogs(-: Picky too and bossy! LOL(-:
ReplyDeleteThose bluejays can be quite noisy! I think I got dive bombed by one yesterday when I was bent over looking at a plant. I heard wings right by my head and then saw a jay land 15 feet from me.
ReplyDeleteI grew up just across the border in Bellingham. Currently Bernie and I are staying at my parents place in the Bellingham area until our next adventure. Its always fun to run into a "neighbor" out here in the blogging world.
ReplyDeleteWhite Rock is a nice place, I have only actually been there a couple of times, but I enjoy it. Bernie and I go to Semiahmoo now and then, and I like to look up at White Rock through the little telescope things they have at the resort at Semiahmoo.
Thanks for the visit!
Great take on the Jays! We get plenty of them at the suet feeders, but I'm not sure which ingredient/s they are after. Whatever it is, they keep returning.
ReplyDeleteTheir calls are just fascinating too. No wonder they call them the 'great imitators'. I'm often tricked into thinking there is a red-tailed hawk in the tree and find rather a Stellar's Jay there.