Lovely Stonechats in perfect light.

I am well aware that light is the most important factor in photography and thats why I went back to the moor this late afternoon, I was hoping for good light and the chance of something special and wow, did it happen!  First of all, both Stonechats were still around the territory and I actually caught sight of one of the recently fledged youngsters being fed but only momentarily.. But like I hoped the low light was casting a wonderful ambience on the birds.  I covered myself in a camouflaged cover and with the camera on the tripod I closed the legs, extended it as high as at could and used it as a monopod.  In this way I could get a good background rather than photographing in to the sky.   I was actualy looking down on the subject and getting not only great light but a perfect background. The photos I took, almost all of them 200 or more, are amongst the best I have ever taken.

 

The female regurgitated an insect which was obviously unpalatable. I wasn't expecting that but it made for an interesting shot.

Of all my 5000 or so images, this is way up there as one of my all time favourites.