Gray Jay fun at Algonquin

[paul_reeves]

I took two friends up to Algonquin yesterday to see the fall colours and get a little birding in. We only saw 15 or so species and there were a bazillion tourists up there, but what a fabulous autumn day to be outside. I have photographed a lot of Gray Jay up in Algonquin but I have never tried them from this perspective.

[Kris Ito]

Delightful! He's like a feathery chipmunk, trying to stuff his face as full as possible. Glad you had a nice trip.

-kris  

[paul_reeves]

Postby Kris Ito » Sun Sep 28, 2014 10:30 am

Delightful! He's like a feathery chipmunk, trying to stuff his face as full as possible. Glad you had a nice trip.

-kris  

Thanks Kris. These guys are always a lot of fun. They would cram their crops full of peanuts and craisons and then disappear for ten minutes or so as they flew away to one of their caches to store the treats. Then they would come back for more.

[nkwali]

Great perspective on those shots. Not a view one normally sees...craisins & all...

[rcflier]

Very nice!!  Lots of fun. Where in the park was this - visitor center perhaps?  

thanks, happy birding

[wanchan]

Nice close up shots !!! Why the bird has 2 bird rings in different color ?

[BetCrooks]

The coloured bands let the researchers identify individual jays from a distance. It's part of a long-running research program.
http://www.algonquinwrs.ca/Current%20Research.html

[paul_reeves]

Postby nkwali » Mon Sep 29, 2014 8:59 am

Great perspective on those shots. Not a view one normally sees...craisins & all...

Thanks. I tried this perspective once before with Chickadees on Hall's Road so I decided to give it a try for the Jays.

Postby rcflier » Mon Sep 29, 2014 9:53 am

Very nice!! Lots of fun. Where in the park was this - visitor center perhaps?

thanks, happy birding

Thanks. There were three birds on Opeongo Road just north of the bridge. I don't think I have ever seen Gray Jays at the Visitor Centre, but lots in different parts of Opeongo, in the parking lot of Spruce Bog Trail, and at the Logging Museum.

Postby wanchan » Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:48 am

Nice close up shots !!! Why the bird has 2 bird rings in different color ?

Thank you. There are actually four leg bands, 2 on each leg. Thanks BetCrooks for the link to the study.

[mr.sharp-photo]

mizzy lake trail also has a few grey jays.
i went to algonquin on sunday. not to bird, but just to see.
yeah, so many tourists...
but still beautiful (except for the traffic jam from the construction)