Spotted Flycatcher

[Richard Unsworth]

Small birds are hard!

This has a story, that of the sweet acorns of the Holm Oak pictured here. They provide food for Common Cranes and many other creatures.
This cute Spotted Fly' uses the oaks branches as a base from which to dart out and catch flies. I have taken to spending hours watching and waiting for the small guys and find it great fun getting meaningful shots. This region is famous for its Black Pigs and products derived from - lovely; so you see, without these acorns there is no place called Ourique ;-)

Processed in CC
Canon 7d 100-400 1/640 Manual Exposure HH iso 800 f5.6

Rich - working hard.....

[Marina Scarr]

I think you did really well composing this image. The only thing that could have improved it is if the bird were a color which popped as opposed to blended in with the environment.

[Richard Unsworth]

Thanks Marina

Actually this is the only Spotted Flycatcher I have ever seen :-) thier behaviour ie hiding, darting out to catch flies makes em pretty hard to get in the open.
As far as colors on the bird go you make an interesting comment but nature has worked him so he does blend in - fascinating. I find if I stand under the crown of these Oaks, I begin to see a whole busy world of living things, birds can be feet away and you just cant see em, love it lol

[Diane Miller]

I just saw this thread -- there's so much in Avian I inadvertently miss a lot of it.

This is a very nice environmental portrait, sharp and well-exposed and I like the composition. I was struck right away by how the bird's color blends in with the tree. His position against the sky makes him readily visible.

Could I import some of these little guys? We have a lot of flies from horses in the neighborhood.

[Richard Unsworth]

Hi Diane

they must go through a fair weight of flies thats for sure, reportedly in the Algarve at the moment there are large numbers of these as the migrations are in full swing just 90 miles from me. Here this is the only one Ive seen and I walk in the Montado every day. Pied Flycatchers are more abundant but also whack the flies big time. When the Bee eaters are here I have read each one takes 100 bees a day!

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

I like how you composed this Richard. The branches frame the image nicely and your story told is also told by viewing the image and I jus imagine him scoping out the land and darting out for the kill LOL.

[Richard Unsworth]

Thanks Cheryl

I much prefer this kind of shot these days. Its hard to get very close to things when walking in the open as you know.
I love the fact that all these critters are just outside the door and I can walk for miles. The blazing heat of summer is now receeding and soon many species will return to over winter