Jays at the pool

It’s always a thrill to see Jays. They are, however, difficult to see. The most likely reason for that is human persecution. The behaviour of the natural world is a response to the actions of humans as we have cut, burnt, planted, hunted and eaten our way around the planet. In many places the only species left are the ones which avoid us, together with inbred domesticated species.

We’re in a small hide with a reflection pool in Slovenia when we spot a Jay coming through the trees.

They are absolutely stunning close up.

The scrappy, unsure, young Jays seem to have much paler blue eyes, while the older adults have darker eyes.

There’s a lot going on in their feather detailing. Just look at how complex all these markings are:

The closer you get to Jays the more interesting they are. If only we could get closer.