Wednesday, June 15, 2011

A Painted Bunting eating grass seeds...

Sometimes I think I have a little bird fairy that sits on my shoulder and whispers in my ear when I’m missing something important. That was the case with this little Painted Bunting. I was photographing a beautiful Great Egret as he fished in the green waters of the mote in front of me, when I felt I needed to look to my left. There…about 6 feet from me, in the tall grasses that lead down to the water’s edge was this male Painted Bunting. He was busy foraging through the hanging seed tassels...

I can't believe he perched so close to me. Those little grass seeds must be very tasty to lure him in!

I hardly know what to say about this bird. He takes my breath away every time I see him...and the words seem to go with it.

Two years ago I photographed a Painted Bunting in the same spot! This little patch of grass grows all along the bank on the back side of Ibis Pond...the part of the pond where the birds don't seem to nest too often.



A sweet fellow...of course he lives on Pinckney Island!

I found this Painted Bunting at Ibis Pond on Pinckney Island NWR. When I first arrived, I could hear them singing at the forest's edge just off 278. They were all along that part of the driveway. When I looked up, one was even sitting on a wire singing! I knew it would be a good day when I spotted one seconds upon entering the refuge, but I had no idea I'd be able to stand about 6 feet from one!

...this post is part of the 2011 Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge series. Pinckney Island is located just off Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. (Click here for the Pinckney Island 2011 posts, here for 2010, and here for 2009.)

48 comments:

Lynne at Hasty Brook said...

Oh.
My.
Goodness.

Laure Ferlita said...

Now that's a life bird for ME! Would love to see one! Love that last shot.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I finally managed to spot a couple by staking out the bird feeder at Jekyll Island's nature center. I love these guys. Such impossible colors.

TexWisGirl said...

oh, your photos are just exquisite! i posted a few today of a painted but nothing as stunning as yours!!!

Sondra said...

This is the bird I went to see last fall they had migrated about one week prior to my arrival...They are shown to breed in my area but Ive never seen one or even heard of one in this part of SC...I hope to see this yr if all goes well. Beautiful PHOTOS!!

Nicole MacP said...

Wonderful, wonderful pics!!

Janice K said...

WoW! He is a rainbow of colors! How I would love to see one of those sometime. Your pictures are gorgeous! I'm going to go back and look at them again.

Tammie Lee said...

oh my, dreamy gorgeous, a wee bit of magic!

Kyna said...

I love painted buntings. Almost never see them. They're the reason I grow sunflowers. The first year I grew them, I let them stay in the ground after they were dead. Birds loved the seeds. They drew the most painted buntings I've ever seen. Most of them were females, but even the females are a cool colour. :)

Unknown said...

Holy Oh My WoW! Gorgeous!!!

Carol Mattingly said...

Absolutely gorgeous gal. Carol

Cicero Sings said...

Wht a beauty he is! Lucky you.

NCmountainwoman said...

Awesome!

Montanagirl said...

There's no words to describe how beautiful he is. Your photos of him are breathtaking!

Bob Bushell said...

You're brilliant Kelly, the colours are too much, beautiful.

Jayne said...

Oh Kelly... I gasped! Just gorgeous!

Randy Emmitt said...

Kelly,
Never seen one of these this close up! You must become invisible when shooting in the field!

Kathy A. Johnson said...

What beautiful pictures of a beautiful bird! Are you going to paint him? He would make a lovely painting!

Roy said...

Wow! Those are some amazing shots, Kelly. Good work!

Debbie said...

simply amazing, gorgeous pictures of a gorgeous bird!!!

Wanda..... said...

Exquisite...both photos and bird!

Banjo52 said...

I've never seen one. These are great shots!

Roy said...

Oh! wow Kelly, what an amazing bird.
Have you been near it with your paint brush.{:)
Great photos.

Dan Huber said...

amazing capture - I hope to see one of these sometime -

dan

Rural Rambler said...

Beautiful bird! Beautiful shots!!

Elizabeth said...

The are unbelieveable! Words fail...

Out on the prairie said...

One i have only seen once.

Kerri Farley said...

This entire post takes my breath away. I think of these birds as "Rainbow" birds .... they are so lovely. I've never seen one in person though.

Unknown said...

OH! Those pictures took my breath away! Literally! Congratulations on those stunning shots!

Pam Johnson Brickell said...

Glorious! I'm sure you have bird angel guiding you as it knows you celebrate their beauty to the maximum. Stunning, Kelly!

Debo Boddiford said...

OH MY! These are some of the most beautiful photos!! What kind of camera do you have? The background colors are so lovely also...did you photoshop the backgrounds, use special settings on your camera, or was the angel still sitting on your shoulder? I need to buy a new camera... so I am interested in what others are using.
I am just over the state line (in GA) from where you took these lovely photos. I am also an avid bird watcher and trying to learn to sketch birds. I need to make a trip soon to Pinckney Island! My Flickr link has some lists of my most recent backyard bird sightings: http://www.flickr.com/photos/44599703@N06/
Debo Boddiford

Hilke Breder said...

Oh, Kelly, wow! I am beyond envious! Your images are pure magic - absolutely picture-book perfect!

TonyC said...

Great shots Kelly. If you asked a 3 year-old to paint a pretty bird - you'd get painted bunting!

Dawn Fine said...

Woweeeeeeeeeeeeeee....awesome!

The Zen Birdfeeder said...

Fabulous! What an awesome bird!

Andy said...

Awesome, just awesome!

Elaine said...

They certainly are beautiful and look like someone took a paintbrush to them. An amazing bird and wonderful photos!

Anonymous said...

I have never been fortunate enough to see things like this in my backyard but there is always hope. LOL

These are about the best bird portraits I have ever seen.

Guy said...

Hi Kelly

What an incredible series of photographs. That is one of most
beautiful birds I think I have ever seen.

Guy

Grizz………… said...

Of all the birds I ever hope to see, I expect this one tops my list. Incredible shots, incredible bird.

Chris said...

Wow did you pain that guy ;-) Incredible colors and fantastic bird, I would have love to get such pictures. They are wonderful shots Kelly and I love the environment you got them too. Simply marvelous!!

Dave said...

Beautiful photos Kelly!

Shelley said...

Wow Kelly! What I would give to see this! Your photos are gorgeous - the bunting is so beautiful he almost doesn't look real!!

Lois Evensen said...

Oh, wow! Those are gorgeous! What wonderful images. What beautiful colors on that fellow.

Sunday hugs,
Lois

Susan Ellis said...

That settles it! Back to Pinckney Island is a definite must. Stunning captures Kelly. Seriously, stunning. I'm still waiting to see my first.

Sarah Knight said...

That is gorgeous!

Kelly said...

...thanks, everyone for all of your kind comments! What a gorgeous little bird, and to have him sitting just six feet away was amazing. I doubt I'll ever get to experience that again!

Andrea said...

Truly amazing! What a special moment. And scrolling down the page I ran into all the alpaca posts. They remind me some how of a horse, bunny, camel combination. Your shots really captured their being.