The Stonechat Story Continues

Each year now we are fortunate that either a male or female Stonechat or both, arrive for the Winter and frequent the open grassland on part of the Parkland. 

This year its one of each and they appear in good condition. There is certainly plenty of food around for them as they are constantly flying up in to the air from a bramble bush or hopping from fence line onto the grass catching insects.

One of their favourite spots to perch is this bramble bush below which is out in the middle of a large meadow area. They have 360 visual of raptors and can drop into the bush at any time. Where this bush is located its unlikely a Sparrowhawk would attempt anything as it would be seen for several hundred metres in any direction.

Sunray Robin

My current single image post depicts a Robin that I shot in subdued lighting under fairly dense foliage. 

Just at that time due to the wind moving the leaves, a ray of sunlight came shining through on the bird.

The shot was taken at 600mm (M43).  1/200 at f4.  -1ev.  ISO1600

Saharan Sun

Due to the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia dragging the tropical air and dust up from the Sahara, the UK had a variety of reddish or orange sky during the early part of the week. At some stage the sun was quite red, more so after I shot these images. Here are a few shots at various profiles I took.

Autumn Flutters

The middle of October, a temperature of 20 celsius, a partially sunny day. 

These are ingredients for a few butterfly sightings of the species that still fly during that period. It was not surprising then that today as I walked through a wooded area of the Parkland at a spot where the sun shines through I would find some. Within a few metres of each other I found a ........

Red Admiral.

....and a Comma.

Goosander (Female)

Two female Goosanders have been frequenting one of the lakes in the local Parkland for the last few days. 

There have been males visiting in the past, but these are the first females I have seen there.

If you are wondering how some of the images have white backgrounds. 

This is achieved by shooting low to the water surface using 'Spot' metering and will occur especially if the sun is in the background.

Autumn at the Tree Stump

Its that time again in the autumn when little can be found of bird life on the local patch. 

So a strategic withdraw to the tree stump in the woodland area armed with a bag of peanuts and seeds at least gives one something to practice on.