A species I rarely have a chance with in the wild but my luck changed yesterday morning.
For several years I had many opportunities with Bullock’s Orioles when they used to come to my hummingbird feeder in my back yard. But since I don’t post or do anything else with baited or set up images you’ve (almost) never seen them on my blog. For some reason orioles no longer appear in my yard and I miss having them around.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
That’s part of the reason I was so happy to see this juvenile show up in my viewfinder yesterday morning in the Wasatch Mountains. I’m fairly certain it was there for the chokecherries but I never saw it eat any. I think the bird was just too wary of my pickup. I got a few shots of it hiding behind the berries and then it was gone.
I think the chokecherries in the image add a nice touch.
The sour and acidic astringency produced in our mouths when people try to eat chokecherries apparently has no unpleasant effect on many critters and birds – over 70 species of birds alone are known to eat them.
I tried them once in Montana when I was a kid. As far as I’m concerned the birds are welcome to every last one of them.
Ron
Note: As unpalatable as chokecherries are when eaten straight from the bush lots of folks eat them when used in jams, jellies and syrups. It must take a huge dose of sugar to make them appeal to our palates though. I’ve even heard of wine made from chokecherries but then some people will make wine out of just about anything. I did a little research on that subject and I suggest you don’t repeat my error. Some bizarre wine ingredients will churn your stomach…
You really captured that soft new plumage in this beautiful composition!
Ron, I’ve never seen a Bullock Oriole at our feeder. However, I saw a larger bird rest on the Hummingbird a few days ago and tried so hard to get some sugar water.
Our Hummingbird was so upset. It flew all around the other bird – either in fear or aggression. My husband thought it was in fear. What a stir that bird caused.
I researched your oriole and see that it weights 1-1.7 oz and length is 1.6-1.7″. Do those numbers look right to you?
Thank you Ron, for the beautiful photo and for stirring my interest, just like a teacher.
Thanks, Alice. Sibley lists 1.3 oz. for Bullock’s Orioles.
Soft and beautiful. Love the shadows, the composition and the bird.
And wine. Made from grapes. Preferably not stomped by people with tinea/toe jam (one of the times I do applaud mechanisation).
Ha, are you thinking of that old I Love Lucy episode, EC?
Nope. I never saw I love Lucy. We didn’t get a TV until late and it is a habit I never acquired.
I acquired it but mostly lost it. Seldom watch it anymore.
I’ve only see the adult male a couple of times, never a juvenile. Beautiful bird, beautiful photo.
I’m glad you like it, Lyle. Thanks.
Love the photo.
Thanks, Jean.
Another gorgeous photo! I think the framing is just right and the berries really add to the photo.
Another western bird I have not had the pleasure of seeing. Alas, so many birds to see and so little time! And money 🙂
Thanks for mentioning the composition, Joanne. I made extra effort to get it “right” this time.
That is a very beautiful young oriole, and I agree with others, the composition is about perfect. I had a few adult/subadult Bullock’s in my yard much earlier this summer, eating grape jelly I put out for the Hooded Os and (literally) trying to break into the hummer feeder, but they’re long gone now. Happy you found this one in the woods!
Thanks, Chris. Yes, they can be very aggressive at the hummer feeder.
A lovely young bird!
Thanks, Arwen.
Beautiful shot! He’s definitely keeping an eye on you. I’m enjoying the shadows as much as the subject — especially the one across the tail showing his toes and the way the tiny leaf in the lower right corner is mostly shadowed except for the very tip.
“I did a little research on that subject and I suggest you don’t repeat my error. Some bizarre wine ingredients will churn your stomach…” CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! 😉 (See, I’m a middle-school teacher already!) Got to see my new room yesterday. It still has the gorgeous original parquet floors from the ’30s. Wish the original wooden cabinetry was still there, but can’t have everything.
Marty, a couple of the disgusting wines they mentioned were snake wine (entire snake bodies in the bottles) and feces wine from Korea. At that point I had enough…
Dang! People will ferment anything, apparently!
I think folks who use those particular ingredients have already consumed too much of their product, for many years.
Thanks for the picture. I think you ate the chokecherry before really ripe. I love the taste, and when you pick those huge big ones they are juicy sweet. I am not much of a wine drinker, but there was a man who Dad knew that made a very nice smooth wine. We had several bottles. Guess it is a practice you need to perfect. I would love to see the Hummingbird picture posted sometime. Only way to get pictures of them is at a flower or feeder so do have to set up a little for them. I bet you have some pretty ones.
Trudy, actually I never photographed them so the feeder would show. They were usually on the nearby grape vines but they were still baited in by the hummer nectar.
Very pretty shot Ron. I have found Bullock’s Orioles here to be very elusive – adult or juvenile. Don’t think we have chokecherries here, but not positive.
Everett Sanborn
Prescott AZ
They’re elusive for me too, Everett. Very shy.
This is such an artistically beautiful image…the composition, colors and detail are all so pleasing! The detail of the fruit is the final touch…
Thanks for that feedback from an artistic point of view, Patty.
They are lovely birds. I wish I would get them in my yard their hanging nests are interesting. They seem to like creek a lake areas with cottonwoods. I have helped raise a few, the chicks are demanding.
Yes, their nests are neat structures, April.
Gorgeous portrait of this juvie. I find it interesting the way the background balances the photo – it adds weight to the left side. We have chokecherries in North Carolina, and I’ve seen them stain our front walk, but have never seen birds eat them. I’m glad I’ve never tried eating them…
I noticed that balance on the left too, Susan. Thanks for mentioning it.
Wonderful shot Ron,thanks for sharing!
Charlotte
Thank you, Charlotte.
Glad you captured the Oriole! 🙂 Love the context! We do have some in the yard. Now those chokecherries – aptly named tho my husband will eat very ripe ones out of hand – are berries that will make a helluva mess on vehicles/concrete/hands. MUST use gloves working with them or they’ll show until new skin grows out! Chokecherry syrup is wonderful even if requiring a ton of sugar to make! 😉 The birds do love them and, often, the bushes will be stripped before they are totally ripe!
I had no idea they stained that badly, Judy. And I’ve eaten chokecherry syrup and loved it.