Cettis Warbler
First attempt at photographing this elusive Warbler. Turned out to be quite a productive morning.
Like most of us, all I have ever seen is a skulking shadow, and that's if you're lucky in the undergrowth. The song is very distinctive, so once memorized you cant not but hear/identify them. So I followed the call around from bush to shrub to gorse back to scrub. A fleeting glimpse here and there. Seemed like I was wasting my time then I saw the bird call from an exact branch I had previously seen it sing from.
I set up at the this spot and waited. Ignored all the calls around me sometimes very close. Then patience paid off it came back to where I was standing and quite amazingly crept up to where it had been previously. It was too close so I had to step back. I cant believe it was so confiding. It would continue on its rounds flying past me low down within 2m sometimes closer still. It didn't always pop up or to the same branch, however it would return to the same area of scrub/bush.
It seems like you have to dedicate sometime in for this species, observe its movements and try to see where it comes up once it sings. Maybe I just got lucky on this one. However, I will try another one as I think its territory is primarily gorse. To get a shot of that with the yellow flowers would be something special.
It was a special morning this for me....to just wait and the bird to be comfortable with my presence. I was happy for the rest of the day :)
Taken at Swillngton/St Aidens.....I would like to stress no recordings were used as it was reported some photographers on site have been seen using some recording/playback device. This is not my style.
Thanks to all who comment and view my images, much appreciated :)
Cettis Warbler
First attempt at photographing this elusive Warbler. Turned out to be quite a productive morning.
Like most of us, all I have ever seen is a skulking shadow, and that's if you're lucky in the undergrowth. The song is very distinctive, so once memorized you cant not but hear/identify them. So I followed the call around from bush to shrub to gorse back to scrub. A fleeting glimpse here and there. Seemed like I was wasting my time then I saw the bird call from an exact branch I had previously seen it sing from.
I set up at the this spot and waited. Ignored all the calls around me sometimes very close. Then patience paid off it came back to where I was standing and quite amazingly crept up to where it had been previously. It was too close so I had to step back. I cant believe it was so confiding. It would continue on its rounds flying past me low down within 2m sometimes closer still. It didn't always pop up or to the same branch, however it would return to the same area of scrub/bush.
It seems like you have to dedicate sometime in for this species, observe its movements and try to see where it comes up once it sings. Maybe I just got lucky on this one. However, I will try another one as I think its territory is primarily gorse. To get a shot of that with the yellow flowers would be something special.
It was a special morning this for me....to just wait and the bird to be comfortable with my presence. I was happy for the rest of the day :)
Taken at Swillngton/St Aidens.....I would like to stress no recordings were used as it was reported some photographers on site have been seen using some recording/playback device. This is not my style.
Thanks to all who comment and view my images, much appreciated :)