Morning Mischief – Encounter with the Eurasian Jay
Yesterday, during an early walk through our local forest in Tilburg, I was surprised by two Garrulus glandarius — Eurasian jays, or Vlaamse gaaien in Dutch. Perched between shadows and streaks of morning light, they were hopping, chasing, and seemingly playing among the branches.
Photographing them with my Canon 7D Mark II and Sigma 100–400mm lens proved to be a delicate dance with the low light and their quick movements — but the experience itself was more valuable than any perfect shot.
Eurasian jays belong to the corvid family, known for their intelligence and complex behavior. They’re not just beautiful with their electric-blue wing feathers — they’re problem-solvers, mimics, and even cache acorns for future meals, playing a vital role in forest regeneration.
It reminded me how even a local patch of woodland can offer something extraordinary — a moment of wild behavior, rarely seen up close. You don’t have to travel far for wonder. Sometimes it finds you.
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