Brown Fly-catcher

[John Cooper]

I had a hide set up on this flycatcher for about a week before first photo session. The next day I went out for the second session only to find the nest invaded by a colony of tiny black ants. One chick was already dead and the other on its last legs as both parents tried frantically to pick off the ants - a futile exercise unfortunately :(
This invasion of a nest by ants is not uncommon!
I liked the string of saliva connecting the parent and chick.

Canon 5D, Canon 100-400mm, ISO 100, Natural light with fill-flash, F11, Hide on 6ft platform, Tripod.

[Sid Garige]

I live every thing but the oof stuff in the background. Was there a way to move little to the left to avoid this?

Cloning can help if your postprocessing ethics permits.

[John Cooper]

I live every thing but the oof stuff in the background. Was there a way to move little to the left to avoid this?

Cloning can help if your postprocessing ethics permits.

No unfortunately not Sid - I agree it's a bit distracting but you often have to put up with this with nesting sites!!

[Jim Poor]

Tragic. Not something I would want to watch.

[Bev Barker]

Amazing capture! the BG doesnt bother me if it means getting a shot like this.. but what a sad ending though.