19 April, 2009

Mipits



... Yep, this post is especially dedicated to Meadow Pipits (or Mipit in birding slang). A recent trip to West Wittering beach in West Sussex left me with 100s of shots of these squeaking spotty little birds as they hopped, skipped and flew around the sand dunes there; so I thought I'd share some of my favourites with you...

It was actually quite easy to get up close to these birds, just lie down and slowly move closer. This one staring down the lens...


and peering down at an ant (I think)...


Every now and then one would burst out of the undergrowth and perform it's song flight...





The birds were very alert and were constantly on the look out for predators, perching on twigs on top of brambles.
Long grass, a photographers nightmare!
I think this shot would have been quite good if the strands of grass weren't in the way!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Lovely selection of images there Bill, the term 'Mipit' is great.

PeterG said...

My favorite thing about the "Mipit" (good term) is that they are so low key in the moors, not too vibrant, but such interesting demeanor.

#I Donated To Cornell Ornithology#
http://www.opticsplanet.net/cornell-lab-of-ornithology.html

Anonymous said...

Great photographs in your last couple of blogs,Billy. I expect you are back at school now and doing your work experience soon. Have you managed to get a job to do with phootgraphy? Jackie.

Billy Dykes said...

Yep, the Mipit does wierdly sound nice on the tongue!

Jackie- I am now back at school, wooh! ;) but I did my work experience back in February (our school did it early) at my dad's work in London (trading firm) couldn't be much different from photography!!

GRAMPS said...

Hi Bill. Just thinking about your word MIPIT. It just could be that that little bird is not looking down at an ant but has ground penetrating vision and is actually looking at HIS coal mine below. Possible, eh ?