Lazuli Bunting male in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I shared so many images yesterday that today I am keeping it simple with one image of a Lazuli Bunting male I photographed high in the Wasatch Mountains last week. The bunting is small in the frame because he wasn’t as close as I would have liked him to be.
Right now male Lazuli Buntings are in their finest breeding plumage and I take great delight in seeing and photographing them. The morning light lit up his feathers and he stood out well from the green of the distant mountain slopes.
This male Lazuli Bunting was singing when I drove past him. He was on the wrong side of my Jeep which meant I had to drive past him, turn my Jeep around up the road a bit and head back to where he was perched on a serviceberry. I kept hoping the bunting would stick while I turned around which he did long enough for me to lock on and take two images of him perched and two of him diving towards the ground with his back side towards me.
I sat for a bit hoping the male Lazuli Bunting would fly back up to this serviceberry and sing again but that was not to be. I was simply glad to have seen and photographed him.
I have only seen a few female Lazuli Buntings this year and only from long distances. In the next few weeks I should be seeing them along with young buntings that have hatched this breeding season. The females and young Lazuli Buntings delight me every bit as much as the males.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Lazuli Bunting photos plus facts and information about this species.
I’m loving the colors! Thank you Mia!
What a beauty – even without the song.
They are such a delightful bird. I think they are one of Jon’s favorites.
As much as I love and appreciate birds, this species was my favorite sighting when we went out West! Thanks for sharing!!