Another glorious day, and another chance to head out to the fields before work. In the trees the yellowhammers were displaying their vibrant plumage.
You'd think such brightly coloured birds would be visible wherever they were. Not so. There are two yellowhammers in this next shot (plus a chaffinch).
I've marked the difficult to see bird here. Extremely well camouflaged from above, which with the number of raptors in the vicinity is no bad thing.
Hidden in woodland, the green woodpecker is another bird that can easily evade being seen, its colours blending perfectly with the dappled light and variable leaf colour. It also has an annoying habit of creeping round to the far side of trees. It can however always be heard (it has a piercingly loud call) and it was its call that caught my attention this morning. And then, joy of joys, it broke cover, flying over open land.
Back at ground level, a lone squirrel was foraging in a ploughed field.
And finally, for no reason at all, a very poor joke…
Why did the rabbit cross the road?
It was hopping to get to the other side.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
gdare
26 Mar 2011A possibility to camouflage is helping them against predators, I guess. Do they (predators) see colours or they react to movements?
SittingFox
26 Mar 2011Wow, that is well hidden! It's incredible how such brightly coloured birds can just vanish against the right backdrop.
Great to see the woodpecker in flight :up:
Words
26 Mar 2011Darko, birds have excellent colour vision, often highly specialized (much better than ours). Predators use different techniques.., kestrels see urine trails from voles and mice, via ultra violet light. Foxes on the other hand hear their prey and don't have great eyesight (movement is more important for them). I guess yellowhammers are concerned about attack from above, so their mottled brown back is very handy when they're feeding. I guess the yellow may also help camouflage them when the crops are high.
Words
26 Mar 2011Adele, I took some more shots where it is incredibly difficult to see how many birds are in the picture even at full resolution. It's made me realize just why I have so much difficulty picking them out when they flock down to the field. Against a dark background they simply disappear.
The woodpecker was a treat.
Mickeyjoe-Irl
27 Mar 2011Makes you wonder about how many you don't see.
gdare
27 Mar 2011Originally posted by Words:
Wow :eyes:
Words
27 Mar 2011Mick, there are so many times when I can hear birds, but not see them. Worse when it's a distinctive call (like a woodpecker), but even with field birds you can be almost upon them before you know they're there.
Words
27 Mar 2011Darko, clever things!
cakkleberrylane
27 Mar 2011I too am amazed at how they can disappear. Great post!
Words
27 Mar 2011Lois, thanks!
Words
31 Mar 2011Thanks Erwin!
Wulpen
19 Oct 2012Beautiful shots