A Chat over the hedge

A bird that almost rivals its close relative the Robin for its friendliness, winter Stonechats usually are quite confiding and can become very approachable once they are used to your presence. They seem to overwinter in pairs, and these Cambridgeshire birds have found a nice stretch of Bramble covered ditch next to a farm track, to provide food and shelter until the spring.
I used the car as a mobile hide to get these shots; perfect shooting conditions, good light, an elevated track affording views over the hedge, and a very distant background that allowed me to use small apertures and still have diffuse colours behind the birds, it was only the waiting for the birds to perch in the place on the taller twigs that needed some time; but with a flask of hot coffee and the Sunday Express crossword to do, it was a very nice way to spend the day. A small set of images, including one of the female, from the 17 gig I shot........