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The most prominent bird at the feeders at my Brothers house in the mountains near the town of Red River, New Mexico during my second visit there between Oct 14  and Oct 21, 2002 was the Steller's Jay.  This attractive bird was quite fearless and would sometimes fly to the feeders on the second floor deck with me in full view on the deck just 15 feet away with the camera pointed  at it.  The bird is a pretty one with its blue body yielding to a black neck and head.  The head is marked with four white lines above and between the eyes. 

Despite its attractive coloring it is difficult to photograph because the black neck and head. makes details in these areas difficult to catch.  I used my Olympus C-700 ultra Zoom digital camera. The 10 X optical zoom lens allow a choice of from 38 to 380 MM.   Most of these pictures were take with most of the optical zoom capacity engaged.

The yellow areas in the out of focus timber background are patches of Aspen in their fall splendor.  Note the peanut in the mouth of the bird in the left picture below.

 

 

 
 

I was quite impressed by the appearance of the exquisite little bird pictured below on the top deck rail near tthe feeders.  I believe it is a Gray Headed Junco.  According to my Peterson Field Guide this Junco winters from Wyoming south to Arizona.  I suppose this subject is planning to spend the winter in these mountains at about 9,000 Feet elevation.  This is a very shy bird and would not dream of approaching the feeders with me outside on the deck.  These pictures were taken with me inside the house pointing the camera through the glass picture windows.

 

 

 

 The locals identify this bird as an ordinary Blue Jay.  I suppose they are right although the colors in the illustration in my Peterson Field Guide are considerably darker than they appear here.  This picture too was taken through the glass windows.

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