In Colorado, we have a saying about “bluebird days.” I think (don’t quote me) it might have originated during the clear-turquoise-sky days of winter, clear as seaglass against snowy slopes, but honestly, with about 364 days a year of sunshine (I’m only sliiiiiightly exaggerating), most days in Colorado are bluebird days. The last few days haven’t featured even a single cloud in the sky (sorry, Seattle). With all hope, we have some clouds in our forecast – and maybe even some moisture this week (it comes, it goes … we never know until it falls, or spits, or drizzles). Cross your fingers; we love our marvelous Colorado skies, but we sure need some clouds and any moisture they might bring and release onto our parched region of earth.
The other day, while in Spring Creek Basin at one of my favorite lookout spots, glassing for mustangs, the mountain bluebirds seemed very numerous and very curious. I sat for a while and was rewarded with some close encounters of the bluebird kind. Under a bluebird sky, these little winged jewels of sapphire are happiness personified (birdified??).
Please bear (bird?) with me as I show off at least one (I can’t tell you whether this was one or three (or more) birds). I’m no bird photographer; I like my subjects (quite) a bit larger … and hooved. 🙂 But boy did this little guy (I think it (or they) was (were) a male(s)) put on a show. Have a look:
I love the pop of orange lichen in the above two pix. When this bird took off, he landed on the ground, in the grass, not far away. I’m sure this one is the same bird because he very deliberately walked over to a big rock embedded in the ground … with a prize.
Whaaaaaaat?!
While I photographed the little guy with his snack, I knew I was missing the key to all bird photography: the catchlight in my subject’s eye. But as I’m not a bird photographer, and the behavior was so cool (I think the bluebird was smacking it on the rock?), these two pix had to be included. I missed the moment when the bird swallowed his prey.
Who’s a handsome bird?!
For your morning dose of bluebird bright-happiness, you’re very welcome. 🙂
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Thanks TJ – I have never seen any bluebirds here, but my daughter used to have a pair who nested in a box in her back yard when she lived in VA.
He truly is beautiful.
I count myself supremely blessed (as I am in so many ways!) to see these little turquoise jewels often! I’m not really a bird person, so I don’t necessarily think about all the birds we have around here – year-round or seasonally – but I have a few favorites, and these mountain bluebirds are among them. 🙂
I love these guys and love your photos, TJ! They are always such visions of blue, especially when landscapes are still winter-brown. Just stunning. Thank you for sharing this guy ( guys) with us! A cloud bank is sitting off to the west over the deserts – a harbinger of moisture perhaps? We can hope…and pray.
Right?! What’s not to love about these cheerful little flutterbys!? Lots and lots out flying and soaring and fluttering and hopefully nesting (?)! I hope ya’ll got snow?? We got several waves today – oh, and it’s snowing again as I type! This snow is falling straight down; most of it has blow from the southeast, from the west, from the south and from the north! None has stuck except on far ridges (McKenna Peak, for example), but the ground is at least damp. 🙂 So grateful! And crossing fingers for the more toward the end of the week!
Just love the bluebird pictures! They are such pretty birds! Praying for some moisture!
We definitely got some moisture – how cool would it have been to have taken these bluebird pix in the snow?! 🙂 The snow melts on contact (or blows like crazy), but we have gotten a tiny bit of moisture out of it, and for that, I am exceptionally grateful!
Beautiful. I love to see these guys!!! They are seldom here so it’s very special.
Oh, I wonder why you don’t see them very often there? I wish I could tell a few to head over for a visit. 🙂 They’re just gorgeous!
I don’t know. I usually see one or two a spring. I think maybe in this valley there’s not the food they really like. They usually show up downed by spring snow.
We have whole flocks of them! In fact, earlier, I was wishing I had my camera to take a pic of several on the top wire of a fence. 🙂
Wow. The most I see at once is 3 — but that’s OK. 💙
Your photos are amazing TJ😮
Thanks, Karen. 🙂 I love to see these little flashes of turquoise flitting all over the place!
Just beautiful ! Great captures. I’ve never seen blue birds here. They’re gorgeous.
Oh, it’s too bad you don’t have mountain blue birds! They’re one of the few birds I can actually recognize, and that flash of bright blue is always a pickmeup! 🙂 We seem to have a variety of *blue* birds, but these have me at hello. 😉