Click once to expand view, click again to get that little bit closer
I always hear these birds on my walks through the local fields or the woods, but rarely see them. On the two occasions I have seen them they have flapped out of nowhere before my eyes and have scared me half to death! Plodding through a very wet meadow chasing Cinnabar moths (a future blog), this one came screeching and flapping out of tall grass right before my eyes. He only flew a short distance before landing and vanishing. How an earth a bright red-faced bird of this size can vanish in a sea of green is beyond me. But then he bobbed his distinctive head up and I managed to get one decent shot before it took off again. Despite my best efforts and very soggy trousers I could not find him again.
June 2018, local field, Staffordshire, England. © Pete Hillman. Sigma 18-300mm lens.
Nature Journeys 
Such a lovely shot. Better by being mostly hidden I think.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jude 🙂 One day I might get more of it if I am lucky and quick enough! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
There’s not many of them in these part of Sweden but we some at the farm last week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has a ‘hide-and-seek’ look about him: you can’t catch me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Looks like you disturbed him!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did 🙂
LikeLike
Excellent photo Pete, a good game of Hide and Seek going on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Belinda 🙂 A good game and the pheasant won! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, you must have been quick. He seems to be surprised to see you. Excellent shot, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Miriam 🙂 The first time he flew out the grass I had the wrong lens on my camera, but he didn’t fly far, so I did a quick lens change in the field, and then luckily spotted him bobbing his head up out of the clumps of tall grasses and wild flowers and didn’t hesitate to get the pic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Pete. Chances like this, I’m glad you were quick to change your lens. His head is pretty. I wonderful what the body looks like!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I will get another chance to photograph him ‘whole’ one day, Miriam 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, keep my fingers across for you, Pete. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Miriam 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Pete. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic shot! It looks very intimate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Simone 🙂 I would have liked to have got closer and more of the bird before it flapped away in a rush, but I am grateful for the one I got 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a nice encounter to have, for you if not for him, and the photographic result must have been worth the wet pants from the wet meadow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes it certainly was, Jill! And the strange looks I had from passersby as I walked up the street to go home! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hee hee, but oh dear.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a couple of resident pheasants at our place .. such shy timid birds. And yes, they have startled me too on the Occassion 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
They make so much noise with their call sounding far, and yet when you are close they are shy and timid like you say 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had ring neck phaesants in Pennsylvania when I was growng up. Great shot! They are hard to get close to…
Dwight
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Dwight 🙂 I chased this one through a field but as soon as you loose sight of him he disappeared amongst the tall grasses. This was a rare and lucky shot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those are sometimes the best ones!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pheasant is a national bird of Japan. There a few who are my neighbours 🙂 I agree, they are very stealthy (and quick) for a bird of their size! Thank you for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂 They are a beautiful bird, and certainly a challenge to photograph!
LikeLiked by 1 person