This shot is one from the same session as last week. Trying to photograph birds in flight with a 500mm f/4 lens and 1.4x teleconverter is difficult at anytime, even more so when crouched on the floor amongst thick foliage covered with a camouflage net. It’s fair to say that the memory card had a lot of missed shots, but when you get a keeper like this, it makes it all the more worthwhile.
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This morning I was in the garden shooting backlit Honey Bees (another blog to follow later) and I heard a tapping noise in one of our Oak Trees. I thought it would be the usual Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers which are common in our area, however, when I looked I noticed 2 juvenile Eurasian Nuthatches. Here is a photo of one who briefly posed on top of the tree for me.
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I’m about to add a new project to the “To Do List” and for those that have followed me for a while will know that I often spend at least one, usually more, session with the subject before planning the shoots. The reason for this is so that I can understand the behaviours and also work out angles of light and position of myself.
The European Roller has been on my wish list for a while but not only are they difficult to get up close to but also attract what I call the “eBird Magnets”. These are the people who watch the eBird website for sightings of birds and then flock in large numbers. I’m really not a fan of this and it’s not good for vulnerable species such as the European Roller.
This morning I was in the lower Alentejo region, shooting a commissioned landscape (I’ve had to wait since January for the perfect conditions for this shoot) so I decided to use the afternoon as a scouting trip to monitor a location I have known European Rollers to nest. Luckily I was alone and spend a few hours watching them perform their spinning displays which is very similar to that of a Lapwing. Even though these trips are not to get photos, I never miss a chance to grab a shot if one comes along. (More information about these birds below)
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I’ve not spent any time at my Iberian Magpie perch for a while, this afternoon, I stopped by briefly and this Magpie landed on the perch perfectly lined up with the camera and the sun.
They are often overlooked as they are so common, but they are a stunning bird and in the right light their colours look amazing.
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This year, locally, we are back to our usual numbers of European Stonechats, last year for some reason the numbers were low. Yesterday afternoon’s light was amazing so I decided to have a short session using the light to create some stunning back-lit photos.
European Stonechats are the perfect model for back-lit shots as you often see them perched on top of plants and fence posts. Their name comes from the sound of their call which is similar to that of pebbles being knocked together, often broken with a single chirp.
In case you are wondering, I’ve included a photo showing you what European Stonechats look like as I was lucky to get a breeding pair perched together.
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Whilst I was sitting waiting for the Golden Oriole to show this morning on “Oriole Terrace” this little Wren was busy chasing anyone else who visited its tree.
The Wren, or Eurasian Wren to be precise has the best scientific name of Troglodytes troglodytes which always makes me chuckle. These tiny birds grow to just over 10cm but make a loud noise. This morning it was in a small Oak tree next to my position. Although I was fully camouflaged, I assume it saw me arrive and didn’t seem bothered by my presence. It’s almost impossible to tell between the males and females so not sure which this is, but I suspect it was the male defending his territory.
Did you know, that the males can build many nests sometimes nine or more. Then he’ll invite a female to inspect and chose one.
Considering it was very overcast when I took this photo and that it was shot at ISO 3200, it has come out fantastic.
