Immature Lazuli Bunting perched in a serviceberry bush – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
One year ago today I was up in the Wasatch Mountains photographing pre-migration Lazuli Buntings fattening on the fruits of serviceberries and most of them were either immature or female buntings.
I had pulled over to the side of the road after seeing lots of bird activity at a serviceberry bush and waited around until they got used to seeing my Jeep and then the birds readily came back in to feed. I didn’t mind the wait at all since I had such wonderful views and I could hear bird song all around me. Better that than the noise of civilization.
This immature Lazuli came out into the open and looked around long enough for me to take a nice series of images of it and its juice stained bill.
Female Lazuli Bunting foraging in a serviceberry – Nikon D500, f8, 1/1600, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
And when this adult female showed up and landed on a branch with the ripe fruits of the serviceberry I had to take photos of her.
This year the serviceberries are a little bit behind where they were last year and the fruits aren’t nearly as ripe as what is shown in this photo in many of the places I go to to find these birds, even the chokecherries are a bit behind too.
Immature Lazuli Bunting checking me out – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I enjoyed being able to photograph the immature buntings foraging on their own and was pleased that they came out into the open more often than the adults did that day. This one sure seemed to be checking me and my lens out.
I hope that in the next few days I’ll be able to go up into the mountains, find a serviceberry that draws the buntings in to sit, relax and photograph them until I get my fill because they will soon be on their way south.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Lazuli Bunting photos plus facts and information about this species.
All three shotos of this beautiful little bird are great, but love second one snugged in the berries most of all….
All are great shots. The last pic in particular, is really gorgeous. Since I am always on the ornithological learning curve, I have to confess that until your post…I had never heard of a Lazuli Bunting. What a beautiful bird. Thanks Mia.
That last one is definitely checking you out. 😃
This is a delightful series and I hope you have an opportunity with them very soon, indeed.
Thank you Marty!
Precious memories. Which I hope you can replenish. Soon.
Thanks EC, me too!
Lovely as usual.
Thank you April.
Have you ever seen an Indigo Bunting, Mia? Sam Keen writes so beautifully of seeing one as a child in his book Sightings. Thank you as always for sharing your gifts with the world.
Cindy, I have indeed seen Indigo Buntings and even had them nest in my garden in Virginia. I used to take my sons with me to go “bunting hunting” by driving along back roads listening for their songs and calls too. That was before i became a bird photographer, I wish I had been able to photograph the beauties we found.
Would love to have seen that but then any bird makes me “Ewww” and “Ahhh.” 🙂
Images bring back memories! I remember well my first Lazuli Bunting, actually have the picture of the place and the bird in my head. Thanks for a wonderful post.
I’m glad this post brought back fond memories Dick!