Day 337: Scrubby (California Scrub-jay, Aphelocoma californica) put in an appearance a few days ago. Some birds are notoriously difficult to photograph, and while Scrubby can't compete with warblers with respect to declining to pose for a portrait, he is sufficiently shy that I can only capture him through double-pane glass (and that only if he doesn't see me pick up the camera). Although this is far from a field-guide image, it shows his markings clearly enough to document his presence in the yard. Some time back (a few years ago, I believe), "Western Scrub-jay" was divided into two separate species, California Scrub-jay and Woodhouse's Scrub-jay. Ironically, Woodhouse's is known to occur only from southeastern Oregon south and only marginally into eastern central California, and California is the one we have here in Washington. (It must have been one hell of a party that night in Taxonomy Central!) Curiously, a few days prior to my sighting, my botany partner saw a solitary Scrub-jay in his yard, some 50 air-miles north of me. Could it possibly be the same bird? I rather doubt it, but it was an amusing thought since the species is not common in my immediate area. I used to see them frequently along the southern stretch of the Chehalis-Western bike trail, though, and they were no easier to photograph there than here. Scrubby (mine, anyway) prefers to dine at the suet feeder, and his visits are always something I enjoy.
