[All photographs copyright, Gary Nunn 2014] – An early evening walk around Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery paid off when I caught sight of this stunning male Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea passing behind me and into a cypress tree. Backlit by the sun, as it flew by me, I immediately noticed the shiny looking high gloss plumage which is unusual on such a small bird. Sure enough, as it twisted in flight, the blue body was easily visible just with the naked eye. I hurried uphill to get ahead of the fast moving bunting as it traveled from tree to tree staying well concealed. Finally I made it in front and heard it calling from inside a flowering eucalyptus tree crown. I waited a few minutes but it would not emerge by itself and I figured it would be off flying soon! So I switched tactics and coaxed it out by playing a recording of the typical repeated “spik” call, to which it responded vigorously calling and then finally emerged from hiding. But after a couple seconds off it flew westwards never to be seen again despite considerable searching! This is a very fine looking male with indigo head and blue body – I wish it would have sat out in the open!

Indigo Bunting male – Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County, California 29 May 2014

Indigo Bunting male – Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego County, California 29 May 2014