Oscar writes: While walking through a heathland last year I came across a family of Stonechats moving through the heather. I positioned myself slightly ahead of them and waited for them to come closer, which, luckily for me, they did. This image shows the two young birds perched on top of a clump of heather.
Nikon D800, Nikon 600mm f4 AFS-II lens, Nikon 1.4x TC
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Reminded of the recent research by John Calladine et al published in Bird Study.
“Conservation management of moorland…etc”
“Breeding populations for most species showed either a more negative trend at the managed site (Red Grouse, Skylark and Meadow Pipit) or no significant difference was detected (European Golden Plover, Eurasian Curlew, Common Snipe and Winter Wren) when compared to moorland-specific background trends. Stonechats and Carrion Crows increased, despite the latter being actively removed as part of predation control measures.”
Still, income support for upland land managers. Can’t be all bad.
That’s a lovely image, as ever – but particularly nicely chosen I think for showing the young birds, rather than the relatively easy to spot bright coloured males.
If I wasn’t so keen on Linnets the Stonechat might be my all time favourite bird!
Oscar I always look forward to seeing your great photos and I hope Mark can carry on publishing them for a long time to come.
Thanks MK! I’m glad you like them.