All three jay species in our country are beautiful, but I have a special love for the Steller’s because they are only found in the mountains. This is a stunning photograph, Mike, with this exquisite bird and the highlight of the lichen. I love lichen, I study it often on forest walks, but it doesn’t always photograph so well, but here, with the jay in the background, it is highlighted nicely.
Thanks Jet, I agree that all the jays are very beautiful birds and have wonderful behavior that is fun to observe. It is neat to see each in their different landscapes and see how they fit into their surrounding and yes lichen is wonderful and not always easy to photograph.
Wishing you a very wonderful and joyous holiday season.
Thanks although I think snow is required but that is my bias as I have always associated snow with Christmas. Now if I could just go out and find a nice Stellars Jay in the snow….
Thanks for you thought and feedback and wishing you the most joyous of holiday and a happy new year.
Good luck on your search! It still feels surprisingly Christmassy in the sub tropics when the trees are decorated. Fortunately your cold front has reached us and now we can legitimately put the fire on! Merry Christmas! 🎄🐦
What an amazing picture. It has an ethereal quality, the way the light seems to blur everything around the central focus. It is stunning and slightly unusual all at once. How did you do it?
Hi Graham, some things you just don’t know how you did. The forest and light did most of the work the camera was set to a fairly wide f-stop and fast shutter speed to get enough light and other than that luck is to blame.
Wishing you a very wonderful holiday and thanks for the kind and thoughtful feedback. We really appreciate it.
Your welcome Rachel and I hope your upcoming year affords you the time to have many more experiences miles away from anywhere. Which is somewhere we all need to be.
nature has no boss 
He’s stunning! I love seeing birds that I don’t get visits from. 😊
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Lovely, Mike. I really enjoy the Stellar’s Jays. They are so fun, funny, intelligent and beautiful. They have so many words!
Happy Holidays!
Mary
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All three jay species in our country are beautiful, but I have a special love for the Steller’s because they are only found in the mountains. This is a stunning photograph, Mike, with this exquisite bird and the highlight of the lichen. I love lichen, I study it often on forest walks, but it doesn’t always photograph so well, but here, with the jay in the background, it is highlighted nicely.
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Thanks Jet, I agree that all the jays are very beautiful birds and have wonderful behavior that is fun to observe. It is neat to see each in their different landscapes and see how they fit into their surrounding and yes lichen is wonderful and not always easy to photograph.
Wishing you a very wonderful and joyous holiday season.
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Most handsome. The lichen adds to the atmosphere of the shot. Happy weekend!
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Thanks Eliza, Christy and I wish you an yours the most wonderful of holidays.
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Thank you, Mike. The best in 2018 to you both!
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Your welcome Eliza.
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Beautiful capture of nature
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Thanks and wishing you a very wonderful Holiday and may nature flourish in the new year.
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& you also
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Thanks.
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Quite a nice ‘do’.
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I’d fancy to say that “do” is Stellar.
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That would make a wonderful Christmas card.
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Thanks although I think snow is required but that is my bias as I have always associated snow with Christmas. Now if I could just go out and find a nice Stellars Jay in the snow….
Thanks for you thought and feedback and wishing you the most joyous of holiday and a happy new year.
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Good luck on your search! It still feels surprisingly Christmassy in the sub tropics when the trees are decorated. Fortunately your cold front has reached us and now we can legitimately put the fire on! Merry Christmas! 🎄🐦
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Cold does have a way of making Christmas legitimate and this morning it is a truly legitimate -16F. Have a wonderful Christmas.
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Jeez Louise! I would hibernate…Merry Christmas at the North Pole!
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I do go into a bit of torpor this time of year.
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🐻
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🙂
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Marvelous!
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Thanks and wishing you a very wonderful holiday and joyous new year.
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What an amazing picture. It has an ethereal quality, the way the light seems to blur everything around the central focus. It is stunning and slightly unusual all at once. How did you do it?
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Hi Graham, some things you just don’t know how you did. The forest and light did most of the work the camera was set to a fairly wide f-stop and fast shutter speed to get enough light and other than that luck is to blame.
Wishing you a very wonderful holiday and thanks for the kind and thoughtful feedback. We really appreciate it.
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Thanks, Mike. The same to you, happy Christmas 🎄.
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Thanks.
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Exquisite photo!!!
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Thanks and wishing you a wonderful and joyous holiday.
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Great photograph! We often see one when we’re out and about in the mountains – they make their presence known!
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Yes they do make their presence know and just like the Clarks Nutcrackers (camp robber) expect you to leave a bit behind for visiting their forests.
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Wow! Truly gorgeous.
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Thanks and wishing you the most joyous of holidays.
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Absolutely stunning, Mike. Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Your welcome Rachel, we enjoy sharing what we see out there and wish you a very wonderful holiday.
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Thank you, Mike. Apologies for delay in responding. Had a wonderful week miles from anywhere where even a sat nav didn’t work. All the best for 2018.
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Your welcome Rachel and I hope your upcoming year affords you the time to have many more experiences miles away from anywhere. Which is somewhere we all need to be.
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Stellar’s Jay is, well, stellar!
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Well said and wishing you the most wonderful holiday and happy new year.
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Thanks so much! Wishing you the same.
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Your welcome.
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Beautiful bird, beautiful shot!
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Thanks and wishing you a very happy holidays.
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Absolutely beautiful bird! Stunning photo! 🙂
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Stellars Jay is a wonderful bird and it is always a pleasure to see them.
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