Mood Indigo

We spotted this Indigo at Sandy Ridge, part of Lorain Metroparks, very low in Queen Anne's Lace. He was busy feeding his kiddies, but he couldn't hide!

So, how corny was the blog title? Who's the clever boy, eh? Anyway, we've been seeing plenty of Indigo Buntings lately and I thought I'd share a few of my favorite photos with you (yes, YOU!)

The female could be mistaken for a Sparrow, which I've done. This one came down to say howdy at Oak Openings near Toledo, Ohio.

I'm sure if you've seen them while out birding, you've noticed that they don't like to be watched or photographed. They will do whatever is necessary to avoid being spotted, listed, photographed or watched!

"Ooo, this'll tick them birders off! Let's fly waaaay up to the top, wait for them to spot us, them fly back inside the tree, then pop back out for a sec, then back to the top again, then down low and wait for him to focus, then fly away!"

Well, go ahead, see if I care! There's plenty o' birds out there to photograph! If you guys don't want to be famous and seen all over the world, fine, just fine. Don't worry about me, I'll get over it. I don't need you silly Buntings. Isn't a Bunting a type of flag? Haha, flag birds! So there.

Oh, yeah! We outsmarted this little birdie! We went to the top of the Hawk Watch tower at Magee Marsh so we were at eye level...for a little bit anyway. He eventually went to the top and out of sight.

Poor, poor daddy. Kids are always asking for more bugs and seeds. The little brat on top was screaming the loudest for MORE!!!

Here's the shy one. He wasn't making a fuss like his sibling was.

"Yeah, I'm bad! Give it your best shot Loop!"

Here's a female that was banded by Mark Shieldcastle of Black Swamp Bird Observatory.

I've been told that the blue coloring that humans see when viewing a Bunting isn't truly blue. The feathers are somewhat hollow and the light refracting through them gives the appearance of the color blue. *Mark Shieldcastle, King of the Bird Banders, if you read this, please comment and explain this more betterer for me.

And here's Mark holding a male, a not so happy to be held male. Look at that cranky face!

"Ooo, you just wait until I get away, I'm gonna peck your eyes out...or just fly away and sulk...you wait and see!"