Juvenile Blue Jay

All posts tagged Juvenile Blue Jay

Beautiful Juvenile Birds Along the Trails

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 12, 2012
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Nature wraps me in her gentle embrace as she sings to the first light. ~ Lee Hiller

We have experienced several days that included beautiful life giving rain showers.  Sadly this interlude of moisture did not arrive in time to save many beloved Trees in the Forest.  Joyously I can report the rain has brought out many lovely juvenile Birds and wildflowers.  I was also blessed to see my dear friend Bob a female Squirrel this morning as I headed into the Mountains.

Beautiful blue Asiatic Dayflowers are blooming again on the Carriage Road. It was wonderful to see a juvenile Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren and Mourning Dove.  Even Lichen had enough moisture to begin painting the Rocks again.

The rain was a glorious gift this week, the Forest felt alive after so many months of drought. It was a perfect morning in the Forest.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Wildlife, Wildflowers and Magnolias in a Lovely Spring Morning

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 23, 2012
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I Love heading into the Forest before the sun has crested Hot Springs Mountain.  It is a world of shadow and half light where Nature is waking from her slumber.  I knew it was going to be a perfect morning when I immediately spot an old friend, Bob the Squirrel.  I call her Bob because sometime before we met 3 years ago a portion of her tail had been removed (bobbed).  Her survival skills and parenting have always made her a welcome site.

As I head up the mountain I find 2 clusters of Daisy Fleabane waving in the cool breeze. On the Carriage Road I have the feeling I am not alone.  Looking up I expect to see a bird, but it is instead a lovely Squirrel hanging upside down watching me.  By the steps heading up the Dead Chief Trail a single blue Asiatic Dayflower glows by a steam vent.

The soft glow of Yellow Sunflowers dot the trail edges as the sun lightly illuminates the way forward. Two purple Asters are peeking out from sparse greenery.  The Short Cut Trail is slowly awakening as light begins to caress the canopy. At the top of the Mountain I am taken by the gentle rustling of the Leaves, a soft morning melody. It is a peaceful hike around the eastern side of Hot Springs Mountain, I had forgotten how beautiful the trail is in the first light.

When I reach the north side the sun is beginning to reach over and bird song leads me to a tiny Carolina Chickadee. An adult and juvenile Blue Jay are supervising flight training of a lovely little fledgling.  It is beautiful watching them diving in and out of the Pine Trees calling to one and other.  While I am enjoying the show my camera battery goes dead so I change it out.  As I snap in the battery I glance to my side and see a glowing shape on the trail ahead of me.  Standing illuminated in a single patch of bright light it take me moment to realize it is a Deer.  A lovely Doe has been watching me and after several seconds she gracefully trots off into the Forest.

I head home down the Floral Trail and take another tour past the lovely Magnolia… it has been a beautiful morning in the Forest.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Fall Leaves, Sundogs, Blue Jays and Mysterious Jelly Blobs

Posted by Lee Hiller on November 16, 2011
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Storms raged for nearly two days knocking down much of the beautiful fall foliage on Hot Springs Mountain. When I leave for my hike the rain has stopped although the clouds are still dark. The deep red, rust and yellow of the autumn leaves appear to glow in the dim light. From the Tufa Terrace to the Dead Chief Trail I am still not sure if the storm has past.

Near the Short Cut Trail the sun begins to shine and I remove the rain covers from my cameras.  The warmth of the sun on my face is rejuvenating and taking a deep breath I feel a lightness in my step.  Hiking up the trail I love the soft sound of my footfall on the damp rust leaves now vibrant in the bright late morning light.

At the top of the Mountain I glance up to see two small juvenile Blue Jays perched among the autumn Leaves.  I am surprised they are without an adult and that they have not alerted the Forest to my presence.  They are a lovely sight after the storms of the past days and a sight to fill my heart with happiness.

My hike along the east side of the mountain reveals that most of the autumn foliage has been blow free of their branch perches.  The leaves create a rust brick road and I think to myself “Lions and Tiger and Bears, Oh My”.  I know I am somewhere over the rainbow when I look up to see a colorful sundog in the sky above me.

Heading down the Mountain on the Floral Trail I see clear glinting ice-like objects on the path.  Thinking they are ice I reach down to touch one piece only to discover they are jelly blobs.  I wonder if they were dropped here by a human traveler or a natural phenomena produced during the lightning storms.

Leaving the park I am surprised by a sound to my side and I look up to see a sweet young Squirrel on the branch above my shoulder.  It has been wonderful hike in the park.

Much Love to ALL!

A New Alpha 55 Perspective on Nature

Posted by Lee Hiller on November 9, 2010
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I have a new camera, a Sony Alpha 55 with a G Series 70-400mm Lens.  Not as portable a unit as I am used to with a compact point and shoot.  The lens alone is about 4lbs., add the camera body and it is going to be an arm strengthener.  Today was about what can I see and how far away or how close can I capture my subject.    I am  using two straps over my shoulder to balance the weight.  .  This is a set up usually used with a tripod but I NEVER have time to set one up to capture the wildlife in the park.  I am learning to be my own tripod, a new kind weightlifting aerobic workout on the trails. I am eye shooter so I adore the magnified view finder and the horizon level with multi-point  focus points. Oh and I just got a cool new app for my cell phone that tracks my hiking with GPS distance and elevation is mapped out so I see where  and how far I have been hiking each day. Oh did I mention the Sony Alpha 55 has GPS as well so I know where each photography was taken, LOL as if I could ever forget!

Rather than recount my hike which was more about how to carry and make the large lens and tulip hood seem portable.  It is best to let my first attempts with this camera/ lens combination stand on their own. I hope you will enjoy the 84 photographs.

Love of Nature has healed me, the park has been my health care provider and church for the past year.
Love,
Lee

PS: Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of hiking in and blogging about Hot Springs National Park.

The Crooners, Brats and The Happy Couple

Posted by Lee Hiller on August 9, 2010
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Carriage Road Eastern Cottontail

Tufa Terrace Trail Juvenile Blue Jay

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Juvenile Carolina Wren

Arlington Lawn Pink Peonies

It is always beautiful after summer rain, refreshing drops feeding the Forest.  Delicate pink peonies are glowing against the green leaves freshened by showers last evening. A gorgeous morning bouquet as I enter the park.  As I head up the Tufa Terrace a vibrant Male Cardinal is singing to greet the morning.  As he moved among the leaves it shifts the drops of rain on them onto my head.

At the top of the Tufa Terrace I can hear the brats in the Trees ahead of me.  “The Brats” are a flock of Juvenile Blue Jays that have been staying just out of sight for nearly two months.  This morning I am feeling blessed, they decide to bring their Play into the Tree above my head.  Two of the three are mixing it up squawking and preening at one and other. It is so fun to finally have a clear view of them after being taunted by their endless chatter.

When I arrive at the Carriage Road I see the “Happy Couple”, two lovely Eastern Cottontails.  They are grazing on the sweet moist grass in the light peeking through the Trees.  I feel blessed that they allow me to stroll into their world and take photographs.  Even when they hide as other pass by they return to the grass when we are alone. The male is a silvery gray and has heavier fur, the female has 3 nicks in her right ear and reddish fur.  They are a beautiful couple and I hope one day to see their sweet offspring.

I hike up the Dead Chief and Short Cut Trails to reach the top of Hot Springs Mountain.  On the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I am struck by the humidity.  It creates a visible haze and coats my body in a light film of moisture, my sunglasses are steaming up each time I try to take a photograph. It is mildly frustrating.

As I am trying to defog my lenses a Carolina Wren lands in a bush next to me and as I try to take it’s photograph I realize it is not just my sunglasses fogging over, so is the eye piece on my camera.  I am guessing on the location of the Wren and using auto focus in the hopes I can get even one decent shot of this sweet juvenile bird.  It’s like hiking in a bathroom with a hot shower running.

When I reach the west side of the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I connect with the Honeysuckle Trail. Unfortunately I encounter trail repairs in progress and head out of the park on the Floral Trail to  move away from the sound of a tractor engine.  For now I will complain about the noise but be happy they did the work when the trails are still passable after the next rain.

Dance in the rain and delight in the freedom of being outdoors in Nature’s playground.
Love,
Lee