Monday motivation

There’s nothing like capturing an image you have wanted to achieve all year, to provide a bit of Monday Motivation!

I’ve spent a lot of time watching the house sparrows this summer, and seen my fair share of courtship and mating behaviour, but capturing that crucial moment has always proved illusive. The birds are often concealed deep within the vegetation, in poor light or frustratingly beyond the reach of even the zoom lens.

Today the elements finally came together and the house sparrows performed right on cue in what is likely to be their last breeding attempt of the year (sparrows can have as many as four broods per season!) .

After a brief display of tail flicking and excitable twittering this male mounted his chosen female with wings spread, in perfect view on top of a well chosen perch.

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The mating itself is brief, over in a matter of seconds. Blink and you’ll miss it!

Captured with a shutter speed of 1/2000 sec

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Job done…

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All photographs copyright of Claire Stott/Grey Feather Photography © 2020
www.greyfeatherphotography.com

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