Gray Jay sunbathing

It started off with hail, but has now changed to rain this morning - just when the guys have started taking out all the windows in my building, ha! My turn should be on Tuesday - yay!

We came across this Gray Jay lying near the edge of the path at Upper Lake, Kananaskis, on 8 July 2012. At first we thought it was dead, but when we stood and watched, we realized it was still alive. Feeling sorry for the poor suffering bird, we got a surprise when it gradually pulled its wings closer and flew up into the nearest tree and proceeded to preen. We had wondered if it might be a young one who had stunned itself by flying into a nearby sign, but apparently Gray Jays (and other kinds of Jay) do this sunbathing : )

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gray_Jay

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Gray_Jay/id