One of the delights of going out with the camera is coming across something unexpected. Today I made an early start, and managed to grab a few minutes before work to see the early morning birds. There's a spot that had caught my eye yesterday when I saw a goldfinch in the last of the snow.
So I went back there today. No goldfinches, but a very bold and co-operative chaffinch.
He was there again at lunchtime, and proved to be the most cooperative of subjects, allowing me time to construct shots and get close. All the shots of him are full frame which is a rarity with small birds. Usually I crop down to a greater or lesser extent.
This third shot is my favourite of the three, even though I wasn't as close.
But none of these are red letter photos. For that I have to go back to the start of the day when, while watching the chaffinch, a flash of colour caught my eye. A small bird crossed along the lower part of the trees and settled briefly. I was an uncomfortable distance away from where it landed, but for once I was cautious and took some shots before attempting to move in any closer.
As for what it is, well it's one I had to look up. I'd not seen this little fellow before, but I've scattered plenty of clues in the post. It's a redstart and this one must be an early arrival after their winter migration. It's certainly the first I've seen, but they are very quick, and could easily be mistaken for a rather elegant variant of the robin.
One last note for the day. The nicked ear vixen paid a brief visit this evening. I was reasonably confident she was still around, but it was good to see her again after a few days of no sightings. She's still somewhat shy and isn't the easiest of foxes to photograph as I don't want to startle her. I'm not sure whether it was a second fox in the vicinity, but remained very alert and spent most of the time listening quite intently.
Camera note: all birds taken with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens, with Kenko Teleplus 1.4x Pro 300 DG teleconverter added for the second and third chaffinch shots. The fox was photographed with the EF 24-105 F4L IS USM lens.
ellinidata
9 Apr 2008another successful walk along Adele!
I simply love it!
xxAngeliki
Words
9 Apr 2008A totally new one on me, and on checking some other sites I'm not the only one who has had to crop for England to get a usable picture.
Vulpes vulpes
9 Apr 2008A Redstart…! :eyes: Lucky sighting! :yes:
Words
9 Apr 2008Angeliki, I'm glad you enjoyed the photos, but Adele is over here. 😉 Easy mistake I guess with all the foxes!
ellinidata
9 Apr 2008oops! You are all lovely fox people! I love going walks with you as long as there is a fox! 😆
And I did the same mistake another time,I was sending you to bed again and again! I guess I am becoming obsessed with foxes and I forget the host!
sorry ,:love:
gdare
9 Apr 2008Excellent set of photos, as always. It seems that snow hasn`t done much damage to plants and trees. Here, we reached 25C in monday but otherwise only rain and not so cold wind. But I need more sun, all of this is boring at the moment.
😆 @ Angeliki, I did it once too 😀
Flying Red Fox Blog
9 Apr 2008Its quite easy to make them out, one has a dark background to the blog the other dosent 😆 Nice post, its a shame the Foxes didnt hang around while it was snowing.
chthoniid
9 Apr 2008Nice bird shots :up: the environment they're perched on/hopping on gives the pictures a deeper impact.
ellinidata
9 Apr 2008thanks Darco! Good to know I am not the only one that mixes and matches foxes!!! 😆
F.R.Fox Blog, thanks!
now if I only remember who is who! 😆
Words I am a big fan! thanks
and if from time to time I say "Adele go to bed you need some rest! ", I really mean it!For Adele. 🙂
Words
9 Apr 2008Mark, yes I waited and watched and got very cold. But no foxes!
Words
9 Apr 2008Darko, oddly it barely got below freezing when the snow was at its heaviest. So really it just provided a blanket over the plants. They coped fine. It sounds like you have a heat wave. Can you send a little bit to the west!
Words
9 Apr 2008Angeliki, don't worry about it. As FRF said above, it's easy to spot the difference. Adele's foxes come out in the snow.
cakkleberrylane
9 Apr 2008Wonderful photos again!! Such beautiful birds and a great shot of the fox too!
Words
9 Apr 2008Brendan, thanks. I was really fortunate with the chaffinch. A perfect low perch and great textures all around.
Ukwildlife
9 Apr 2008Nice redsart! I photographed a black redstart once, but in romania
gdare
9 Apr 2008All weather changes here comes from west… except one wind that comes from south east. So, probably you will have to wait for Gulf stream to bring some nice weather.
SittingFox
9 Apr 2008Yes, it is easy to spot the difference – I don't have a redstart on my blog!! 😆 Great sighting, Words, and the finches are wonderful too.
Words
10 Apr 2008Neil, thanks. I've not seen a black redstart (great name :doh:), but I bet that was a nice shot to get.
Words
10 Apr 2008Thanks Adele. I reckon it may be a while before I get another redstart but at least I'll know what I'm looking at next time.
Words
10 Apr 2008Thanks Lois! It was a good day for the birds.
Words
10 Apr 2008Darko, we've been getting too much weather from the north recently, but yes we need the Gulf stream to kick in.