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Phoenicurus ochruros


Phoenicurus ochruros
Photo Information
Copyright: Mark Balas (CatStevens) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 51 W: 0 N: 56] (386)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H5
Exposure: f/3.7, 1/200 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-11-20 11:13
Viewed: 535
Points: 10
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Female. You can see the catch in the bill, a hover fly and black ant. The ant was still alive. I could not see it with naked eye, full zoom 734mm in 35mmm format, but I was lucky to take 3 rapid photos and on all three the ant's legs were in different position.

The birds build a nest which is always covered from the top. Image cropped a bit.

Based on wikipedia.
The Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) is a small passerine bird that was formerly classed as a member of the Thrush family (Turdidae), but is now more generally considered to be an Old World flycatcher (Muscicapidae).

The Black Redstart is 13-14.5cm in length. The male has no chestnut on the flanks nor white on the forehead. The female is greyer than the Common Redstart, and at any age the grey axillaries and under wing-coverts are distinctive. In the Common Redstart these are buff or chestnut.

The "fire" of the tail labels the bird as a Redstart, but it may be distinguished from the Common Redstart, which is the same size, at 14 cm length, by its sootier appearance, even when the distinctive white wing patch is not apparent, as in immature males.

They typically frequent cliffs and stony ground, but in Britain often breed and winter in industrial complexes that have the bare areas and cliff-like buildings it favours. It will catch passing insects in flight, and migrants may or hunt in the tide-wrack for flies or tiny crustaceans. Its quick ducks of head and body are robin-like, and its tail is often flicked. The male has a rattling song and a tick call.
nglen, undoredo, mlines has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Mark
Now it is me who is jealous!!...this a fine shot showing great details from the tail to the ant!..I had one of these visit my garden in england last year for a few minutes and I just managed a really unimpressive blur!!
Great work here and tfs and showing me how I could have taken the shot.
Paul

Czesc Marek! Piekna ostrosc. Fantastyczna przejrzystosc kadru. Rewelacyjne swiatlo i taka sama kolorystyka. Pozdrawiam!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2007-11-21 10:49]

Hi Mark. You have captured a fine close up of this Redstart. fine detail in the feathers. with natural colours.a good pose with the fly in its mouth. a nice POV/DOF. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Mark,
What a nice moment of the scene you've captued!
Wonderful! Excellent details and nice focusing here, with very nice compositio & POV.
Well stand out with lovely blurry BG as well.
TFS and regards,
Kevin

  • Great 
  • mlines Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 507 W: 17 N: 555] (2560)
  • [2008-08-11 17:41]

Hi Mark, A remarkably sharp photoand well composed. This is the style i am aiming for in bird photos with mottled non-distracting background. TFS. Murray.

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