Mountain Bluebird Flight Positions April 2018

During a recent trip to Yellowstone National Park, I experienced a natural wonder as hundreds of Mountain Bluebirds gathered in meadows just outside the North Entrance near Gardiner, Montana. I was able to observe and photograph these beauties in flight as they repeatedly hovered in an attempt to identify prey. I spent the better part of my day observing and trying to photograph them in flight. I camped at Mammoth that night and I could hardly sleep in anticipation to greet the birds at first light but it was not to be; the Bluebirds had moved on and the great congregation that I witnessed was not seen again during my visit.

Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5535 x 3690 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Blue Bird
Male Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5033 x 3355 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
From Birds
Mountain Blue Bird
Female Mountain Blue Bird (Sialia currucoides) near Gardiner Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4 x, ISO 800, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 4317 x 2878 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
From BIRDS
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 5168 x 3445 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 3878 x 2585 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 3857 x 2571 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 4531 x 3021 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A female Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 4442 x 2961 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 4160 x 2773 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A female Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2500 second @ f/5.6, image size 3823 x 2549 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A female Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/3200 second @ f/5.6, image size 3595 x 2397 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 4618 x 3079pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 5488 x 3659 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A female Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/1600 second @ f/5.6, image size 5007 x 3338 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana
Mountain Bluebird
A male Mountain Bluebird near Gardiner, Montana, April 2018. Canon 5D IV, 500mm f/4 IS II + 1.4x, ISO 800, 1/2000 second @ f/5.6, image size 5195 x 3463 pixels.
mountain bluebird Sialia currucoides wildlife montana