Black Redstart and blue skies

There’s a Black Redstart in the park here in Italy. I’m at Parco della Caffarella for the afternoon and finding the Black Redstarts very frustrating. Every time I approach them they fly off.

I decide to stand still and something wonderful happens. One comes to me:

I soon get in a rhythm with them and understand what to do so they don’t fly. It’s not the camera; it’s the fieldcraft:

I’ve not seen a male yet, though. 

I can hear one calling, so I approach in the cover of a hedge:

• 

• 

• 

What spectacular birds.

I can’t wait to spend more time with them.