Ring Ouzel, male. Stanage Edge, Derbyshire Peak District. (best largest, click twice on image) DSC_8985.jpg
I'd walked along below the Edge to an area where Ian Bollen and I had found Ring Ouzels feeding on 14 April, but nothing was stirring in the cold and shade of this section of the Edge, before the sun got higher. So I went back to the sunny SE end of the Edge and then slowly repeated the process.
I spotted Wheatears characteristically standing up on heather as before, so I homed in on one. As I closed in it saw me and flew out, but I'd seen this male RO feeding nearby. I dropped to the ground and crawled between clumps of vegetation cover, pausing each time the bird was in sight, imagined it'd spot me and go before I could make my final objective location 20 feet ahead. But I was lucky, it stayed put, pottering about, searching and feeding, making its way slowly towards my hiding place.
I think it was curious about the sound of my occasional shutter actuations, but not deterred. Eventually it was only 7-8 feet away, stood up on a heather clump cocking its head, listening. After a pause, it continued on its way, stopping occasionally to listen.
This was taken as it moved around and past me, still very close, more than filling the frame.
Thank you for your faves and comments; much appreciated.
Ring Ouzel, male. Stanage Edge, Derbyshire Peak District. (best largest, click twice on image) DSC_8985.jpg
I'd walked along below the Edge to an area where Ian Bollen and I had found Ring Ouzels feeding on 14 April, but nothing was stirring in the cold and shade of this section of the Edge, before the sun got higher. So I went back to the sunny SE end of the Edge and then slowly repeated the process.
I spotted Wheatears characteristically standing up on heather as before, so I homed in on one. As I closed in it saw me and flew out, but I'd seen this male RO feeding nearby. I dropped to the ground and crawled between clumps of vegetation cover, pausing each time the bird was in sight, imagined it'd spot me and go before I could make my final objective location 20 feet ahead. But I was lucky, it stayed put, pottering about, searching and feeding, making its way slowly towards my hiding place.
I think it was curious about the sound of my occasional shutter actuations, but not deterred. Eventually it was only 7-8 feet away, stood up on a heather clump cocking its head, listening. After a pause, it continued on its way, stopping occasionally to listen.
This was taken as it moved around and past me, still very close, more than filling the frame.
Thank you for your faves and comments; much appreciated.