I tend to focus mostly on raptors, so I think now is a good time to give some of the other local fliers a chance to show off their stuff.

Western Bluebirds are year round residents in Sonoma County and much of the surrounding area. this shot was taken in open grasslands with surrounding oak savannah near a reservoir in late autumn.

The males are the brightly colored ones, as shown above, the blue color can be more subtle in angled light or very vivid when the sunlight is striking at a more direct angle as we have here. This photo was taken in early spring along the creek near my home. This is where the owls also live that are the focus of my stories in The Owlery.

Here is a female bluebird in good light showing the more subtle dusky blue coloring they typically wear.

Female Western Bluebird at Tolay Lake, Sonoma County, California.

Male Western Bluebird at Tolay Lake.

This is maximum blue shown in direct early morning sunlight at Tolay Lake