RHH's photos with the keyword: gray jay

This Gray Jay is perched on son Edward's hand looking for food. We were back from an early winter hike and the Jays were begging food from everyone who pay them and attention.

The Gray Jay, also known as the Canada Jay, the Camp Robber and the Whiskey Jack, is a very bold bird as the photo shows. They are known as Camp Robbers because they will often steal food from a table while you are sitting there and will come very close for food. This Jay is perched on son Edward's hand which our little granddaughter thought was wonderful.

On the away up to Railroad Grade we fed the Gray Jays, also known as Camp Robbers and Whiskey Jacks. As soon as food appears they appear looking for a handout and are always willing to land on your hand in order to get what they want.

This is from last Thursday's backpacking excursion to Artist's Point. We took with us a couple who had just moved here from Michigan and who had never gone snowshoeing before. We've had very little snow this winter (Mount Baker has only had about 50% of its average winter snowfall), but there was plenty for snowshoeing. We had lunch and made coffee up at the top and while we were eating these birds were around to grab whatever crumbs we dropped. They are so unafraid that they will land on your hand if you hold it out with food and will sometimes snatch food if you turn your back. They are also known as Camp Robbers for that reason.

While fixing and eating our lunch at the top of Mount Si the Gray Jays, also known as Whiskey Jacks, came to investigate and we entertained ourselves and them by feeding them tidbits of food and taking their pictures and even by holding bits of food in our hands and letting them come and land on our hands and eat. Their boldness and interest in anything edible has earned them the name "Camp Robbers." Common in the mountains they are always fun to watch. This photo was taken with my wife's camera, but I took it. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/05/mount-si.html A note for those who are interested. I've had two pictures in Explore recently, the first ones in a year, including a picture posted yesterday of Witch's Butter. I've duly noted that with the picture, but must say that for me Explore is meaningless. It certainly is the case that being in Explore has nothing whatever to do with the quality of a picture and that many of the photos are there because someone has learned to manipulate the formula that is used with the result that the Explore photos for a day include a lot of pictures of young girls in strange poses, big-eyed dolls, Lego toys, cop cars and other pictures that have no artistic merit or interest whatever. I no longer check to see if my photos are in Explore and usually find out because someone mentions it or because I receive an unusual number of favorites or views on a photo.

As we were coming down from the summit of Mount Si we found a Gray Jay bathing in some water that collected in the top of a rock. He would fly away and then come back for more, but really gave me the eye when I crept closer and started taking pictures. Made me feel a bit like a Peeping Tom. Must have been a very cold bath, too, since there was snow on the ground yet at that altitude. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/05/mount-si.html

Another photo of one of the Gray Jays that entertained us while we were having our lunch at the summit of Mount Si. Why they are called Whiskey Jacks I do not know. I've managed to post this but won't be able to reply to comments until later in the day. ronaldhanko-orchidhunter.blogspot.com/2013/05/mount-si.html