Penninis, St Mary's - Wryneck

Whilst I was attempting to shelter from the heavy rain, I found the leeward side of a large rock. This Wryneck sought the same in a small cave in the rocks!

Eventually sensing it was dry enough to recommence feeding, out he popped!

Business as usual until the next squall?

Old Town Churchyard, St. Mary's - Wryneck

Finally caught up with the Wryneck which had been see regularly depleting the ant populations in the stone walls! A confiding bird...

Creeping in and out of the many nooks and crannies!

And nearly giving the 180' head swivel...

Two close portraits to finish...

A perfect end to the day and made up for the glimpses of the nearby Melodious Warbler which didn't result in images...

Scilly day 19 - Wryneck!!

The day started with a Wryneck on the west side of Peninnis.....

and it was about to end with the same bird but showing much better! I'd sat on a stone by the coast path and it flew to within 15m of me - mostly hidden from view but giving tantalising glimpses....

Eating ants in the grassy mounds and eventually it was in the open.....

I was almost dying to trim the few annoying grass stems!!

Ultra close views in the end :-)

But the most satisfying image was from the earlier encounter? It perched up in the nearby brambles....

Realising I couldn't make a decent image? I opted to sit and wait - it would soon be flying out! Setting the camera on manual focus, as soon as it flew, I fired a burst - the first two images were keepers :-) Not perfect but if you like a little bit of wing blur, they add to the dynamics of the take off?

Scilly day 10 - Wryneck

First Wryneck of the trip at Porthcressa in the quarry below Buzza.... It wasn't that close but Wryneck are always birds to seek out and savour!

Flitting around the rocks and vegetation at the top of the quarry.....

And then among the lichen covered rocks.

My plea to come closer was to no avail....

There might be another one?