It was cloudy and dark most of the day yesterday despite the Weather Channel’s promise of partial sun, but the birds are becoming more active at my new feeding station. Yesterday we had a lot of Blue Jays in the neighborhood. I watched them forage not only our feeders but all the yards I can see from the house…whether or not they have feeders out. We are also getting Titmice everyday, and a few Chickadees and Juncos. I put up a thistle feeder yesterday…hoping for some of the rumored winter finches. We shall see.

Blue Jays are always handsome…and they are prettier in a photograph than in real life. In real life it is hard to get by their constant fuss and bother to see the beauty. And it really requires a close view…binoculars or camera…to being out the subtle shades and the fine feather detail that make them more than a big noisy blue bird.

Canon SX50HS at 1800mm equivalent field of view. Bad light. f6.5 @ 1/320th @ ISO 800. Program with –1/3 EV exposure compensation. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.