Visitors 27
Modified 21-Dec-23
Created 26-Oct-16
32 photos
...or both?
Several blue birds were hunting for insects beneath the spreading valley oak (Quercus lobata) at the Visitors' Parking Lot. They perched in the tree or on the grass, then flew low over the grass, hovering ("kiting") stationary in the air. One caught something. I watched them for 20 minutes, venturing and coming back to a perch.
Some people wonder, are these western bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) or lazuli buntings (Passerina amoena)? I go with the former. The beak seems to be sharp and narrow, not seed-cracking cone shaped like the bunting's. What do you say?
2/10/2010, between 10:26 am and 10:50 am. I watched this behavior for 20 minutes before I captured the best image...
