After a long wait, I finally got a Bluethroat in front of the lens.
One of the most beloved and photogenic native birds. Here it is beautifully singing its high-pitched song from its (blue) chest.
The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
With its bright blue throat and breast, the bluethroat is a very exotic colour. You find the bluethroat mainly in swamp forests and rugged reed beds.
Males have a bright blue chin, throat and breast
white patch (or 'star') in the middle of blue breast
breast is bordered underneath with a broad, reddish-brown band
conspicuous, white eyebrow stripe
rust red spot at base of tail (especially seen during courtship flight)
The bluethroat mainly eats insects, larvae, worms and snails, hopping on the ground. This mostly involves turning over leaves and soil in search of food. Sometimes the bluethroat also plucks insects from the air.
The bluethroat is mainly found in marshy woodlands and rough vegetation along rivers. Also (roughened) reed beds and salt marshes with scattered willow and alder are suitable breeding sites. In recent decades, the species is increasingly found in railway verges, oilseed rape fields, rough road verges and even cereal crops. However, bare ground (with mud strips for foraging), dense shrubland (for nesting) and upright vegetation (as a singing post) are always necessary.
I am a passionate all-round photographer with a preference for nature and wildlife. Photography for me is mainly about capturing the moment, be it in nature or just on the street... Read more…