Yesterday I wrote about being reminded twice of the value of stillness – this was the second time. With a couple of fellow birders, I’d been enjoying a feast of migrant action all in one field – a Whinchat, a Spotted flycatcher, four Stonechats and these two Redstarts – though, as usual, the birds were a little too distant for my camera to get good photos.
Then, the unforecast rain came down in earnest, blowing across the field in vertical waves. The two chaps headed off but I figured I’d wait out the worst of the weather in the shelter of a large Oak tree growing along the hedgerow. Once again, my partial camouflage and my stillness – I waited 30 minutes or more – was rewarded, as one of the Redstarts came very near where I was standing. I couldn’t risk the camera being out in the rain for long but I was delighted with the couple of images I took and with being able to get such close views of this lovely bird.
