Rich Steel
04-25-2010, 10:18 AM
Hi
For many years I have wanted to see one of these birds and more recently wanted to photograph one. They are a scarce bird in the UK and at the northern limit of their range and so restricted to the southern part of the country. They are also very vulnerable to cold winters and we have just had the worst for 30 years!.
I was down south last week and came up with a plan to try and find and photograph these birds. I had identified a likely area from a bit of prior web research and arrived on the extensive heathland area at first light. The birds are shy and skulk around in gorse bushes. On arrival I was met by acres upon acres of gorse bushes and started thinking that an encounter was unlikely given that I only had a couple of hours spare. However, luck was on my side and I heard a male singing and soon found a pair. The male was regularly coming up on to the top of the gorse bushes and singing giving me some opportunities to take some photos.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/dartfordwarbler201041.jpg
Taken with 1DmkIV with 500mm lens and 1.4TC handheld at ISO 500 F7.1 and 1/800s.
Cheers
Rich
For many years I have wanted to see one of these birds and more recently wanted to photograph one. They are a scarce bird in the UK and at the northern limit of their range and so restricted to the southern part of the country. They are also very vulnerable to cold winters and we have just had the worst for 30 years!.
I was down south last week and came up with a plan to try and find and photograph these birds. I had identified a likely area from a bit of prior web research and arrived on the extensive heathland area at first light. The birds are shy and skulk around in gorse bushes. On arrival I was met by acres upon acres of gorse bushes and started thinking that an encounter was unlikely given that I only had a couple of hours spare. However, luck was on my side and I heard a male singing and soon found a pair. The male was regularly coming up on to the top of the gorse bushes and singing giving me some opportunities to take some photos.
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k217/squidfish_2006/dartfordwarbler201041.jpg
Taken with 1DmkIV with 500mm lens and 1.4TC handheld at ISO 500 F7.1 and 1/800s.
Cheers
Rich