27 Jays at one time

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 06:58 PM

Over the last few weeks Jay numbers at my hide just get higher and higher. Today at one point 27 different birds came in a sortie. Has any one ever heard of this bird in such numbers? I cant get my head round it. Im going to film it and put it on utube next time Im up. Its astonishing.

RoyW · #2 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 07:43 PM

I've never seen that many together myself, but it's not unusual to find them congregating at a good food source.
Must have been some sight!

Have natural food sources, like acorns, elsewhere in the local area failed this year?

Ladywell · #3 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 08:07 PM

Wow - that must have been quite a sight!! We live in the country and our farm is quite isolated but our jays are very shy birds. We normally hear them or see a fleeting glimpses of a white rump as they depart!! We feed the birds and saw a pic on another post of a jay feeding on someone's balcony. I don't know why our jays are so shy?

Meta menardi · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ladywell

Wow - that must have been quite a sight!! We live in the country and our farm is quite isolated but our jays are very shy birds. We normally hear them or see a fleeting glimpses of a white rump as they depart!! We feed the birds and saw a pic on another post of a jay feeding on someone's balcony. I don't know why our jays are so shy?

I think it is quite normal, unless they have become habituated to people.

actionfinch · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 08:26 AM

never 27 in my life... 3 is the most i have seen at once , in my garden... pretty impressive sight to remember.. nice one

kercock · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 09:51 AM

From the hide at Loch of the Lowes,I saw, last winter ,eleven Jays who seemed to be playing follow my leader ! They were in single file weaving in and out of the taller trees, mainly Pine.
The spectacle lasted about a minute. I sat for many more minutes in the hope they would return, but no .
The thing is,it does give you something of an idea of how many Jay's are in your immediate area

htcdude · #7 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 09:57 AM

I've only ever seen 2 separate groups of 7 or 8 at the same location. 27 must've been a sight!

Nige

FUDGEY · #8 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 11:48 AM

It is an incredible sight. It took them about 15 seconds to home in. A few weeks ago there were 5, week later, 10, then 17, then 20 and now 27. I think it must be family groups finding the feeding station and hanging around. Im going up today, ill try get a short vid on my phone and put it on utube.

Jonsfotos · #9 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 01:04 PM

That must have been amazing Fudgey.The most I have seen at any one time was 7 and that was in the garden last year.This year, 3 has been the norm. Late in 2010,I set up a feeding station in a patch of woodland near to my home.It was quiet and it was set well off the beaten track ,( or so I thought). 5 was the most I saw visiting the feeders, not only them, Blue tits, Great Tits, Blackbirds etc.. and over time they got used to seeing me there, and in the end I did not even have to use the hide, just a piece of netting draped over me to break up my outline. . After a month or so on returning , my heart sank when I saw the area had been vandalised, the hide I made destroyed, feeders in bits and beer cans everywhere.This was in a place well off the footpath, up a steep bank ( approx 80yds) that would test the fitness of anyone and very well hidden in the Tree line... but not that well hidden it appeared, the lowlife of Milford Haven had found it.Whether it was luck they stumbled on it, or I was seen going there...who knows!.All I can think of is, its possibly the work of Kids, who perhaps wanted to be out of site of prying eyes, especially where the consumption of alchohol is concerned. So, for the present, I will stick to photographing Jays in the garden, at least I am fortunate to have them here now and again, many people do not.

Jon

FUDGEY · #10 (**permalink**) 12-08-2011, 06:08 PM

That must have been heart breaking Jon, Id have been devastated. I suppose Im lucky living where I do, my woodland hide has been up for two years now and Ive never had any trouble and probably never will. I leave everythingh at it, tools etc and Ive even left my camera gear by accident once for 5 days and it was still there when I went back. If you are ever in SW Scotland let me know and Id happily have a day with you or let you use it. If you have time here are some photos I have taken at it. Most of my recent ones you will see here are at the hide mate. Flickr: Fudgey2010's Photostream