Jays - Another first sighting in my garden

LRM · #1 (**permalink**) 23-01-2010, 08:19 PM

After the excitment of seeing Redwings and Fieldfares for the first time in my garden. I was then thrilled to see two Jays. At first, from my back door, I didn't know what they were, they seemed so big and colourful. I rushed next door to my fathers house, with my camera and crept up to the window to get a better look. When I saw the blue feathers I knew they were Jays, it has been such a long long time since I've seen any. They were picking up the peanuts. When I downloaded the photos onto my computer I could see their beaks were stuffed with 3 or 4 peanuts. I got a couple of fairly nice pictures. I tried to upload one here, but didn't succeed. I could kick myself, because I had cleaned his kitchen window inside and outside, (to get good view of bird table) but I had only cleaned the Living Room window outside and hadn't got around to climbing over the furniture to clean it inside. It wasn't terribly dirty but even a few specks or misty patches can be distracting.

I suppose it is difficult to get really sharp pictures through double glazing and hand holding the 70-300 zoom which is quite heavy. Well that my excuse anyway.

Even the cold weather last year didn't bring so many different species to the garden as this year. But the Long Tailed Tits or the Nuthatches didn't re-appear.

Lockzie · #2 (**permalink**) 24-01-2010, 07:19 AM

Hello,

I also had a Jay in my garden yesterday as well as a female blackcap for the first time.

I know how you feel with the double glazing and hand holding the 70-300 zoom which is quite heavy. I have just ordered a Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom with Joby Ball Head BH1 Kit (a small bendy tripod!) from amazon, so I hope that may help me with the handshake! Will let you know how I get on with it

All the best
Lockzie

LRM · #3 (**permalink**) 24-01-2010, 06:40 PM

Hopefully I have uploaded an image. If it has worked here is a photo of a Jay with its beak stuffed full of peanuts.

Lockzie - interested to hear how you get on with your new tripod. I have a normal tripod and recently a monopod but difficult to mount them or move them quick enough and stealthily. Especially the monopod which has to be screwed on and takes ages especially with the big lens on the camera.

Here goes - apologies if correct photo doesn't appear.

Lockzie · #4 (**permalink**) 25-01-2010, 05:26 PM

Hi LRM

Just thought I would give you a brief update regarding the Joby GorillaPod SLR-Zoom with Joby Ball Head BH1 Kit. It arrived today, not really had chance to have a go with it, but have put my D90 with my 70-300 lens and it is really stable. It is only very small, probably 12 inches or so tall, so will be great on the window sill, especially with a remote. It has a quick release which is ideal. It has bendy legy so you can fix it to different thinks as well
Will have a proper play at the weekend, in the daytime, but so far I really like it and it suits the job it want it for. My big tripod, just takes up too much space!

Best wishes
Lockzie