Indigo Bunting-YES!

If you have been following along for a while you know I have been trying to get a clear shot of one of the Indigo Buntings that have been in the yard and getting more blue every day. Today was the day.

I was doing dishes and noticed one of the buntings actually trying to push aside the Mourning Doves from the kitchen-side feeder. The light made it absolutely glow. I bolted for the camera. I knew it would be another shot through the screen but, man, it was so gorgeous. Best I could manage was this shot.



The doves would not give up their spots so the bird flew off to the back of the yard. Dishes would have to wait. I stepped out back and saw two blue specs vanish into the shrubs. By the time I got there all I could find was a newly fledged female Cardinal hiding in the shadows. Not the Indigos but still a good discovery.



Suddenly, two streaks headed to the next yard. The Indigos were headed toward the owl tree. I circled the house and made it there to find both birds in a Tallow tree but they were watching me. By the time I was getting close enough for a shot they headed back into my yard. Grrrr... Since I was there, I checked the owl nest. No babies inside! They must have left it very recently. Hmmmm...

I scanned the side yard to see if the buntings would head back to the kitchen-side feeders. Only a Red-winged Blackbird (signs that their babies are hatching) and a female Cardinal were there.



Wait! The buntings are over on the frog tray feeder. I knew I couldn't approach from the open neighbor's yard so back around the house I went. I heard doves returning on their whistling wings so I crept slowly into the backyard. When dove spook they scare everything away.

I leaned slowly out from behind the shed. A Mourning Dove was on the frog tray feeder and just in front of it...CLICK!



Two seconds later and the bunting flew off to the back shrubs again but I knew I had my shot! I did stare wistfully out back after dishes were done and there was a lot of activity the rest of the day but the only other good shot I could get was a hunting Dragonfly. Yellow-sided Skimmer, I think.



What a relief to finally get a shot of the Indigo Bunting after all these months. Now I can turn my mind to other things. Like where those baby owls went...