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.)
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48 comments:

  1. Lynne at Hasty BrookJune 15, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    Oh.
    My.
    Goodness.

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  2. Laure FerlitaJune 15, 2011 at 3:40 PM

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

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  3. AnonymousJune 15, 2011 at 4:12 PM

    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.

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  4. TexWisGirlJune 15, 2011 at 4:20 PM

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

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  5. SondraJune 15, 2011 at 4:20 PM

    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!!

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  6. Nicole MacPJune 15, 2011 at 4:22 PM

    Wonderful, wonderful pics!!

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  7. Janice KJune 15, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    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.

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  8. Tammie LeeJune 15, 2011 at 4:56 PM

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

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  9. KynaJune 15, 2011 at 5:04 PM

    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. :)

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  10. UnknownJune 15, 2011 at 5:26 PM

    Holy Oh My WoW! Gorgeous!!!

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  11. Carol MattinglyJune 15, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Absolutely gorgeous gal. Carol

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  12. Cicero SingsJune 15, 2011 at 5:38 PM

    Wht a beauty he is! Lucky you.

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  13. NCmountainwomanJune 15, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    Awesome!

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  14. MontanagirlJune 15, 2011 at 6:39 PM

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

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  15. Bob BushellJune 15, 2011 at 6:56 PM

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

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  16. JayneJune 15, 2011 at 7:17 PM

    Oh Kelly... I gasped! Just gorgeous!

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  17. Randy EmmittJune 15, 2011 at 7:36 PM

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

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  18. Kathy A. JohnsonJune 15, 2011 at 8:36 PM

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

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  19. RoyJune 15, 2011 at 8:49 PM

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

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  20. DebbieJune 15, 2011 at 8:58 PM

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

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  21. Wanda.....June 15, 2011 at 9:01 PM

    Exquisite...both photos and bird!

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  22. Banjo52June 15, 2011 at 10:23 PM

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

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  23. RoyJune 16, 2011 at 5:27 AM

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

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  24. Dan HuberJune 16, 2011 at 6:46 AM

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

    dan

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  25. Rural RamblerJune 16, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Beautiful bird! Beautiful shots!!

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  26. ElizabethJune 16, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    The are unbelieveable! Words fail...

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  27. Out on the prairieJune 16, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    One i have only seen once.

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  28. Kerri FarleyJune 16, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    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.

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  29. UnknownJune 16, 2011 at 9:24 AM

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

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  30. Pam Johnson BrickellJune 16, 2011 at 10:00 AM

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

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  31. Debo BoddifordJune 16, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    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

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  32. Hilke BrederJune 16, 2011 at 8:07 PM

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

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  33. TonyCJune 17, 2011 at 4:40 AM

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

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  34. Dawn FineJune 17, 2011 at 3:49 PM

    Woweeeeeeeeeeeeeee....awesome!

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  35. The Zen BirdfeederJune 17, 2011 at 6:24 PM

    Fabulous! What an awesome bird!

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  36. AndyJune 17, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    Awesome, just awesome!

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  37. ElaineJune 18, 2011 at 2:30 AM

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

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  38. AnonymousJune 18, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    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.

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  39. GuyJune 18, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    Hi Kelly

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

    Guy

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  40. Grizz…………June 18, 2011 at 10:08 AM

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

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  41. ChrisJune 18, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    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!!

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  42. DaveJune 18, 2011 at 5:54 PM

    Beautiful photos Kelly!

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  43. ShelleyJune 18, 2011 at 9:13 PM

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

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  44. Lois EvensenJune 19, 2011 at 6:37 AM

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

    Sunday hugs,
    Lois

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  45. Susan EllisJune 19, 2011 at 9:54 AM

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

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  46. Sarah KnightJune 19, 2011 at 12:22 PM

    That is gorgeous!

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  47. KellyJune 19, 2011 at 11:49 PM

    ...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!

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  48. AndreaJune 21, 2011 at 4:31 PM

    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.

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