Last weekend I was able to take several pictures of the european stonechat which is a pretty seldom birds here in Austria, but due to some efforts in keeping its habitat and protecting it as good as possible the numbers are not declining at the moment but it is listed in the red list of breeding birds.
The stonechat breeds in open areas in both dry and wet places with not too dense vegetation and sufficient roosting places. The species is often found in cultivated and agricultural landscapes along drainage sources, on the slopes of railway embankments, on ruderal and wasteland areas of gravel pits and in extensively used litter meadows. And this kind of habitats are slowly decreasing here so it is getting harder for the stonechat to find food and a breeding spot.
At the Austrian National Park "Neusiedler See" there is still some grassland that is a perfect place to live for the stonechat but there are only a few places where to find it.
Male Stonechat sitting on a bush. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 02:46 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Since at the national park there is a restriction on when to mow the meadow and some meadows ware not allowed to mow, the stonechat can still find breeding spots and enough food to successfully bring up it's offspring. But in places where there is no wasteland anymore it is difficult for birds like the stonechat to find enough food and breeding spots. That's why I a m happy that I could find this bredding pair there in the grass.
Male Stonechat sitting on a bush. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 02:45 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Male Stonechat starting to fly from a bush. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 02:49 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Male Stonechat sitting on a bush. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 02:50 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Female Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:12 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Female Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:12 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Female Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:13 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Male Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:16 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Male Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:16 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
Male Stonechat in the grass. Picture: Florian Glechner.
| Camera used | Nikon D500 |
|---|---|
| Lens used | Sigma 150-600 mm lens |
| Filter used | none |
| Exposure Time | 1/5000 Seconds |
| Aperture used | F6.3 |
| Focal Length | 600 mm |
| Time | 04:16 pm |
| ISO | 1000 |
