The hazelnuts are ripe.Some are still on the tree.
I hurry to collect them from the ground as the wind knocks them down, before the dogs pick them up and crack their teeth trying to get into them. Hazelnuts are so tasty.
But it looks like there is even more competition for the nuts. The Steller’s jay has figured out that this is the time the hazelnuts are ripe. He scolds me as I pick up his lunch.
Another one gets wind of the news. “Did I hear you say the nuts are ripe? Forget the birdseed in this feeder then.”
“Now I just have to get down from here. Ooooh! It looks like a long way down.”
“Might as well go for it. Nothing for it but to jump. Sheesh! I hope I don’t break a leg!”
“Well, you could fly down,” I say.
“Hmpf! I knew that!”
October 3, 2017 at 4:29 pm
Lovely photos and notations Anneli ❤️ Such beautiful birds. Like little dinosaurs aren’t they? But much prettier… 😎
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October 3, 2017 at 8:50 pm
Like miniature pteradactyls.
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October 3, 2017 at 4:32 pm
Nice story again! 🙂
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October 3, 2017 at 8:51 pm
Thanks, Pit. Those animals around here just won’t stop talking!
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October 4, 2017 at 7:22 am
🙂
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October 3, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Wonderful photos Anneli.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:52 pm
Thank you. A bit fuzzy when I’ve had to zoom in, but fun just the same.
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October 3, 2017 at 5:17 pm
Beautiful photos and birds! Don’t let their beauty fool you, however, as their cheeky calls can be heard all over the neighbourhood! My cats are out lazing in the sunshine, and are being bombarded by these gorgeous colourful birds. It is quite entertaining to watch.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:52 pm
They’re just as saucy as squirrels. Real attitude!!
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October 3, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Do you roast them? The nuts, not the birds.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:54 pm
Haha. I don’t think the birds would taste all that good, but the nuts do. We let them dry on a screen in front of the woodstove, but when we’re not going to be home long enough (on a holiday or whatever) we shell them and roast them in the oven and then freeze them.
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October 3, 2017 at 5:36 pm
I don’t know how you manage to get these shots. NatGeo. Quick.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:54 pm
In this case they are so brazen, they just hang around as if they own the place. And maybe they do!
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October 4, 2017 at 4:13 am
Smiling. They are brazen.
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October 3, 2017 at 5:42 pm
Lovely!
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October 3, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Thanks, Arlene, It’s a beautiful time of year.
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October 3, 2017 at 5:54 pm
Love the way you have a sense of what birds are saying!
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October 3, 2017 at 8:56 pm
You just have to listen with the laptop nearby, and then hit the translate button and the laptop tells you in bird talk. 😉
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October 4, 2017 at 4:01 am
Ha ha!!!!
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October 3, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Beautiful photos! And I love hazelnuts!
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October 3, 2017 at 8:57 pm
I do too. Especially when I have to race the dogs and the birds to get them.
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October 3, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Ripe hazelnuts; a pleasant thought. Wish we had them here!
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October 3, 2017 at 8:59 pm
Yes, but you have so many other things that we don’t have here. I was amazed when I realized how well the hazelnut trees grow here. I don’t think they like it really (Montana) cold in the winter, but they’ll tolerate a few degrees below freezing.
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October 4, 2017 at 3:32 am
Lovely photos, Anneli. I’ve never seen a hazelnut tree.
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October 4, 2017 at 7:57 am
I hadn’t either until we moved to Vancouver Island. They don’t like severe winters all that much, I guess.
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October 4, 2017 at 1:52 pm
I have never seen a hazel nut tree either ! It’s huge, and the nuts look really pretty encased inside the flowery looking thing
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October 4, 2017 at 3:40 pm
As the nuts ripen they fall out of that casing, but the first ones that fall make the most work for me. The casings come off easily enough but you have to do each one. Later, after we get a couple of cold nights and a bit of wind, the nuts just drop out of the casings and fall on the ground ready to be picked up and put someplace to dry.
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October 5, 2017 at 11:48 am
Before we had the big flood I used to pick the hazelnuts from my tree, together with the squirrels. Now its all gone with the high waters.
I love your bird pictures a lot and it’s nice to read about what they think too.
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October 5, 2017 at 2:02 pm
What a shame to lose your tree. Wish I could share the hazelnuts with you but you’re too far away.
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October 6, 2017 at 1:27 pm
very beautiful photos….congratulations!
I love Photography, above black/white..
best regards from Italy
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October 6, 2017 at 2:27 pm
I see you have some beautiful photos on your blog too. Thanks for visiting.
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October 11, 2017 at 10:47 am
when you can, leave a reply on my blog (if you like it)
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October 11, 2017 at 11:24 am
I’ve done that now. Beautiful photos!
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October 7, 2017 at 6:45 pm
Awesome photography.
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October 7, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Thank you, Carol.
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October 8, 2017 at 2:05 am
Wow! Beautiful photography.
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October 8, 2017 at 9:08 am
Thank you, Jahid.
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October 8, 2017 at 9:22 am
Welcome!
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October 9, 2017 at 6:43 am
Süße Bildergeschichte, liebe Anneli. 🙂
Herzliche Grüße zu dir,
Martina ❤
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October 9, 2017 at 8:06 am
Thank you, Martina. Have a great week ahead.
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October 9, 2017 at 7:32 pm
I thought the hazelnuts were really something (love the flavor), but when I saw the blue jay shots–WOWSA! Amazing photography, Anneli.
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October 9, 2017 at 9:39 pm
Thanks, Luanne. Those Steller’s jays are really bold and sassy.
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October 9, 2017 at 9:56 pm
Are they a variant of blue jays? Aren’t all jays sassy hahaha?
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October 10, 2017 at 9:12 am
Yes, and yes! The eastern blue jay is rarely seen out here on Vancouver Island. I’ve seen them on our travels through Washington and Montana, and I’m sure they’re in middle and eastern Canada, but not on the coast. But we have loads of Steller’s jays. All are in the crow family (generally not my favourite birds because of their nest robbing reputation). But I think crows and ravens are the worst at that. The Steller’s jays seem to go more for nuts and berries (and potato chips if you throw them out on the grass for them to pick up). Up in the hills we also have jays (not sure if they’re gray jays?) called whisky jacks. They are so brazen around the ski hill areas they’ll come right over and sit on your hand to eat pieces of your sandwich. Sassy, saucy little birds.But the Steller’s jays have the prettiest colour, I think.
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October 12, 2017 at 8:40 am
So beautiful. Sassy and saucy are great qualities for birds ;). My opinion of crows changed after reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. Jeremy was such a sweet crow. Books have power.
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October 10, 2017 at 7:00 pm
The stellar jays are so beautiful, shiny and do resemble ravens and crows. I’m so glad you explained this to Luanne.
Your last photograph of the bird was simply gorgeous, Anneli! I liked the silly conversation and I love birds! 💞 🐦
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October 10, 2017 at 7:21 pm
It’s fun to imagine what they might be saying.
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October 11, 2017 at 5:36 pm
It is something I think I could do this, but will leave this imagining process to the “pro,” You!!! 🐦 💕🐿
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October 11, 2017 at 5:42 pm
Haha. I wish. But thanks for the nice compliment.
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October 12, 2017 at 4:03 pm
You’re welcome, Anneli. I meant this!
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October 12, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Thanks. 😉
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