25th August - Wheatear - Brownwich Cliffs, Hampshire

On Saturday when photographing a Wheatear At Hook Links I commented on the bird being extremely photogenic bird but didn't expand on the reasons why.  This morning I walked up on to the cliffs at Brownwich and then across the field that had recently been burnt.  There was scorched ground and plenty of stubble, in an effort to control the fire the farmer had dug a line across the field and this formed a ridge of dark dry soil.

There were at least six Wheatear in this area and could very well have been many more.  As I arrived there were four along the soil ridge.

Most of the birds were female or immature birds.  Here two together on what looks like a Martian landscape.

So what about the reasons for these birds being so photogenic?  Well it has a lot to do with their striking, high-contrast plumage and distinctive 'bandit' eye masks.  Also they have a very distinct appearance, usually are very and have a preference for preference for open and  beautifully lit landscapes.  These two images go some way to demonstrating this, but missing the 'bandit' like eye mask.

Fortunately there was a male bird on hand to demonstrate the eye mask.

But they don't always stick to the rules when they headed off to forage in the stubble.

A small bale of straw provided a suitable perch to demonstrate the proud stance. They switch from a plump horizontal resting pose to an ultra-erect vertical posture when alert.

They will look for vantage points that will allow them to scan for insects on the ground.  This one perched on a larger hay stack.

But they came back to the ridge of soil and this allows me to describe some of the other reasons.

They actively seek out prominent, elevated lookouts like rocks, posts, and low walls to survey their territory.

While these final photographs go a long way to including all the reasons, Lovely clean backgrounds because they avoid dense forests and instead like to inhabit wide-open, barren terrains like rocky coasts, pastures, moorlands fields exactly like this one.

These open habitats mean rarely do you have to deal with harsh tree shadows or cluttered backdrops, allowing for smooth, isolated bokeh.

And once again the lovely proud stance.

A bird worthy of it's own post, beautiful in the dry landscape provided by the long hot summer.