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Colin Key | all galleries >> Birds of Algarve and Alentejo >> chats > Moussier's Redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri)
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18-NOV-2006

Moussier's Redstart (Phoenicurus moussieri)

Fortaleza de Beliche, Cabo de São Vicente

Not a good shot in terms of quality, but a FANTASTIC shot in terms of "OOMPH"! This cracking male Moussier's Redstart was a first record for Portugal. It was found by a friend of mine, Kevin Wilson, and I got the first (and best) photographs, one of which was published in "Birding World" Vol. 19 No. 11 P.454. This was my first outing with my new 500mm f/4 lens; apart from a few shots in the garden I had not used it before. In the excitement to see the bird I set off on the 35km drive in torrential rain and halfway there realised I had forgotten the tripod - I almost turned back. However, I persevered, and during a brief break in the rain when the sun actually appeared for a few minutes the bird also "popped up". My wife Margaret saw it first and I got off a series of shots which were literally "hand held" (nothing to rest the lens on) and I was shaking so much with excitement and the adrenalin pumping I am surprised that I captured anything. The bird, which is little bigger than a sparrow, was 60 metres away so I was very pleased with the results. I don't even know whether I had the IS turned on or off!! I managed to re-locate and show this beautiful bird to several of my friends all of whom concur with me that it is "bird of the century" here. My only regret is that I cannot lay claim to having found it first - well done Kevin.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi ,Canon 500mm f/4 L IS + 1.4 TC
1/800s f/5.6 at 700.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium large auto
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Milan Vogrin06-Nov-2007 19:31
Congratulation for this star!
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