Blue Jays in July

Blue Jays in July

Our yard is alive with Blue Jays this July. 

Loose flocks fly in and around our deciduous

trees, shrubs and hedges.

Blue Jays forage on the ground and among our garden's vegetation

for nuts, berries, insects and birdseed.

They can also be bullies,

stealing eggs or nestlings

from smaller birds.

But they are beautiful bullies.

Lately, we've had a stretch of warm days.

We see the Blue Jays drinking water

from the birdbath and watch them bathing, 

enjoying themselves with enthusiasm.

Blue Jays sit in the trees near the birdbath,

noisy and screaming jay-jay-jay

prior to landing to splash and play.

Sometimes one will guard the area

from a perch in a nearby shrub

while the other one washes.

At those times, they speak to each other

in softer tones and sound like they are

saying queedle-queedle-queedle.

We enjoy these bright blue birds.

They are striking with their blue crest,

black necklace, blue upper parts, white underparts,

white bar and flecking on their wings,

dark bars and white corners on blue tail and a black bill.

We  know Blue Jays can be bullies

but they are entertaining to watch just the same.

Our yard is large and open enough to be a home base

for a variety of wildlife.

We are fortunate to be visited by many birds and animals

during each season of the year.

Right now, the Blue Jays are here.

All photos are mine.

You can see another of my posts about Blue Jays from

July 22, 2011 by clicking on this link.