Because it is spring -- and because it is quieter in the park now -- I'm seeing many more birds on morning walks.
It was a great start for the day when I caught this Blue Jay contemplating a bounty of acorns fallen from some of the live oak trees around the park.
Although a typical bird for many in the US, this Jay is very different from those we see in Oregon and I have wanted to get a picture of one for a long time.
While the Jay was a first time sighting (here in the RV park), mockingbirds are much more common. They are everywhere...
On fences ....
... on lamp posts ...
And on signs*. (And, sometimes, even in trees.)
They are such a cheerful little bird. I don't get tired of seeing (and hearing) them. Lately, fledglings have been testing their wings and learning to navigate. Some mornings I see what are probably the parent birds chasing crows and grackles away from the little ones.
* That sign is one of our most (UN)favorite kinds. We call them CYA signs -- in this case it is there so that if any of us residents get hit by a car if we venture outside of the park, the management will be able to say 'we warned you.' We live dangerously and often dare to walk past it!
LINKING THIS POST to: MOSAIC MONDAY (thank you Judith); NATURE NOTES (thank you Michelle); WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY (thank you Stewart); GOOD FENCES (thank you Theresa); and SIGNS SIGNS (thanks to Lesley).
Is your place part of something like a condominium? Do people own or rent? Are their restrictions? I love the mockingbird - a bird I've seen very, very seldom in my life.
Posted by: Nan | May 31, 2015 at 07:10 PM
We have many mockingbirds here, too, and like you I love to see and hear them. I also saw them chasing crows away from their nests, and the crows, in turn, chased away the hawks. But my favorites are the scrub jays. They nest in our garden every year.
Posted by: Carola Bartz | May 21, 2015 at 05:37 PM
♪♪...listen to the mockingbird....listen to the mockingbird....
an old old song.
Love your photos..
Posted by: bj | May 21, 2015 at 03:17 PM
We have such a huge variety of birds in this state. Great photos my friend. Enjoy your week! It got HOT, didn't it? Hugs!
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | May 21, 2015 at 01:41 PM
Love those clever Blue Jays. I like the shot of the bird on the sign.
Posted by: Pat | May 21, 2015 at 12:29 PM
What a different BlueJay - Not as brightly colored as some but still a pretty birds. The shots of the birds the fences were great. I thinking Mockingbirds sound pretty too.
It took me a minute or two but I figured out what (CYA) meant finally. Yeah, that's probably the reason for the sign.
Posted by: Ida P. Krause | May 21, 2015 at 09:42 AM
your birds are all so pretty. i like the one sitting on the sign, cute capture.
Posted by: Felicia | May 21, 2015 at 08:32 AM
We have some Jays around here, but there used to be more. They amuse me when they get into squabbles with squirrels.
~
Posted by: ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© | May 21, 2015 at 08:05 AM
I think it's always good to be cautious, but good to be reminded.
Posted by: Lesley | May 20, 2015 at 06:27 PM
Great timing on shooting at the signage.
My SIGNS, SIGNS
Posted by: Photo Cache | May 20, 2015 at 05:02 PM
Good shots
Posted by: Jim | May 20, 2015 at 01:52 PM
The blue jays are such cute little characters. And the sign seems more like a token gesture than a reality.
Posted by: Gemma Wiseman | May 20, 2015 at 12:46 PM
Knowing us, we would walk right on by also!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
https://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/sherlock-boomer
Posted by: Linda | May 20, 2015 at 12:21 PM
I just saw my first Mockingbird of the spring this afternoon! A lot of the Blu Jays stay here all winter but there are more around now.
Posted by: RedPat | May 20, 2015 at 11:59 AM
Well then they need a warning sign to inform you of the danger of getting out of bed! Tom The Backroads Traveller
Posted by: Tom The Backroads Traveller | May 20, 2015 at 11:44 AM
I always have trouble getting a jay to stay still long enough for a clear picture!
Posted by: VioletSky | May 20, 2015 at 11:34 AM
Your blue jay is quite different from ours here in the Pacific NW! Love his markings--beautiful!
Blessings, Aimee
Posted by: Aimee | May 20, 2015 at 12:38 AM
The bird on the sign must be the one in charge! Great series of shots
Posted by: Margaret | May 19, 2015 at 11:30 PM
Blue jays are very cheeky around here. But they are such a pretty color that I don't mind. We only see them out in the woods, not in town.
Posted by: Lorrie | May 19, 2015 at 03:20 PM
So glad you saw your bluejay! And love the other bird as well. Some cute shots.
Posted by: Marie-AZ | May 19, 2015 at 01:50 PM
Beautiful photos. We have lots of Jays here in Oregon. Mostly Scrub Jays and Stellers Jays. I love watching them.
Yael from Home a Garden Diggers
Posted by: Yael from Home Garden Diggers | May 19, 2015 at 10:52 AM
Beautiful photos. We have lots of Jays here in Oregon. Mostly Scrub Jays and Stellers Jays. I love watching them.
Yael from Home a Garden Diggers
Posted by: Yael from Home Zgarden Diggers | May 19, 2015 at 10:50 AM
Love the mockingbird on the signage....cute.
And blue jays...I always drool at y'all who share such a beautiful bird since we don't see them in my part of USA.
Posted by: Hootin' Anni | May 19, 2015 at 10:47 AM
Nice shots.
Posted by: Adam Jones | May 19, 2015 at 10:40 AM
I love both jays and mockingbirds. We have the mockers here, but our jays are different (Western Scrub Jays). Nice to see one of the other types - such great color and markings.
Posted by: KJ | May 19, 2015 at 10:15 AM
Both Blue Jays and Mockingbirds are smart birds and loads of fun to watch!
Posted by: EG CameraGirl | May 19, 2015 at 05:58 AM
The blue jay also looks like it's contemplating you with your camera Sallie. I agree, the sign is undoubtedly a CYA tactic.
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday.
Posted by: Judith @ Lavender Cottage | May 18, 2015 at 05:05 PM
I love your feisty spirit, and the birds. Stellar Jays are common here and I love their brilliant blue mohawk.
Posted by: Gaelyn | May 18, 2015 at 04:39 PM
Great pics of the blue jay and mockingbird! We had a mockingbird that staked out his territory in our yard, especially around the suet feeder. He was effectively keeping the starlings at bay until one day last week, a gang of starlings bullied the mockingbird, so now the starlings are noisily fighting and taking over. Grrrrrr
Posted by: Gail | May 18, 2015 at 01:05 PM
We do occasionally see Blue Jays, I never see mockingbirds...how funny!
Posted by: Donna@Gardens Eye View | May 18, 2015 at 11:27 AM
Beautiful early morning shots of the birds.
Posted by: Rajesh | May 18, 2015 at 10:45 AM
I've not seen a bluejay here for some time. Maybe they all went down your way. They can be quite aggressive, though. Like crows. I love the way our mockingbirds take after the crows...fearless they are!
Posted by: Fotolosopher | May 18, 2015 at 08:44 AM
lovely photos of the blue jay, very handsome bird
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | May 18, 2015 at 08:20 AM
What delightful shots of the blue jays!
Posted by: Lady Fi | May 18, 2015 at 08:05 AM
Great photos! We also have some Blue Jays around, which come and get the nuts. Lovely little mockingbirds.
Posted by: Moni | May 18, 2015 at 07:31 AM
I love the one stopping at the sign.
It is there to remind us.
It is a reminder by itself.
Posted by: rainfield | May 18, 2015 at 07:03 AM
I don't think we have mockingbirds up here in the northwoods, but lots of pretty bluejays. I love the shot of the bird on the sign!!
Posted by: cranberry morning | May 18, 2015 at 05:40 AM
We have lots of Jays in and out of your yard here and seeing the young mockingbirds always brings a smile to my face!! Live dangerously, throw caution to the wind!
Posted by: Sondra-SC | May 18, 2015 at 05:39 AM
Blue Jays are really misread by so many and I am happy you shared them as well, so beautiful, very intelligent for their size to. All a matter of beauty and making their way~
Posted by: Mary Howell Cromer | May 18, 2015 at 04:37 AM
I miss the birds of North America. There are TONS of sparrows that live outside my house as well as a few blue tits. I sometimes see a pair of Eurasian jays out of the kitchen window. We also have blackbirds (their song is lovely) and nightengales... all in all I guess I don't have it too bad! But the birds here aren't as colorful as back home.
Posted by: Halcyon | May 18, 2015 at 04:29 AM
Yes you have some great captures with your camera. I love the warning sign with the little watchman sitting at the top.
Posted by: Podso | May 18, 2015 at 03:47 AM
lol, love the little bird keeping guard for pedestrians :) Excellent shot!
Posted by: NatureFootstep | May 18, 2015 at 03:25 AM
Hello Sallie, I love the both the Blue jay and the Mockingbird. I have more Jays around here than Mockers. I love to listen to the Mockingbird though, they are fun birds to hear.. Great post, enjoy your day!
Posted by: Eileen | May 18, 2015 at 02:33 AM
dearest Sallie; Oh, Blue Jays are a typical bird for many in the US; I'm happy you could take pics of them in Oregon as well♪ And they were 'contemplating'; thanks because I thought the word is used for humans using their brains p:-) Great collage and mosaic and I also LOVE to see the way you are good at finding them on these different places, on the sign♡♡♡
I wish I could hear mockingbirds sing :-)
Wishing you will have a wonderful new week.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*
Posted by: orchid | May 18, 2015 at 12:10 AM
Hi Sallie, enjoyed your photos. I am very familiar with the Blue Jays as they are frequent visitors. I remember yours out west and they are different. Are you talking about the Scrub Jays or am I confused? The Mockingbirds are in this state but for some reason I only see those rarely. I see what you mean by the sign. Thank you for leaving such a sweet comment on my blog. You made my day Have a great week :)
Posted by: DeniseinVA | May 17, 2015 at 09:15 PM
I have never seen a mockingbird...
Posted by: Michelle Ramblingwoods | May 17, 2015 at 08:45 PM
The blue jay population is finally starting to come back here, Sallie. They were devastated by the West Nile Virus and for quite a few years we saw none. There raucous caw, caw, caw is welcome these days for it means they are starting to regain their population. Your photos are great and I enjoyed seeing the mockingbirds.
Posted by: Penny | May 17, 2015 at 07:19 PM
I do like it when the birds return in the Spring. Winter is sooooo quiet. - Margy
Posted by: Margy | May 17, 2015 at 06:14 PM
we get the same birds, I used to feed the birds until my landlady stopped me.
Posted by: ann nz | May 17, 2015 at 05:21 PM
Our jays are enormous compared to these. The Gray Jays seem so very smart. They sometimes accompany me on a hike, flitting along from branch to branch for awhile (possibly hopeful of a handout). Be careful crossing that line Sallie - you've been warned!
Posted by: Barb | May 17, 2015 at 04:19 PM
I love the one on the sign!!!
Posted by: Jenn Jilks | May 17, 2015 at 01:53 PM
PS I think you have capturde the oddball Cyanocitta here.
Posted by: Dianne | May 17, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Although members of the same genus, The Western Jay (Aphelocomo California) is a different species. Both Western and Eastern Jays are members of the Crow family and just as clever as crows. A pair lives in the thicket behind our house. They come to feed here and obtain water. Although a few stragglers pass through Oregon and Washington state on their winter migration, the Eastern Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is generally not found in the west as you note. I love them. Thanks for sharing the photos. And the mockers are swell too!
Posted by: Dianne | May 17, 2015 at 12:06 PM
definitely a cya. :) i bought a jumprope this spring and the instructions said 'always wear protective eyewear when using it' yet the photos of folks using it were without 'safety goggles.' sheesh...
we take jays for granted a lot of the time, but they are SO beautiful. love the mockers, too.
Posted by: TexWisGirl | May 17, 2015 at 12:03 PM