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Cirl Bunting


Cirl Bunting
Photo Information
Copyright: Zeno Swijtink (Zeno) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 483 W: 0 N: 1345] (10867)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-05-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D7100, Nikon 300mm VR 2.8 D + TC 2X
Exposure: f/8, 1/500 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2011-06-14 8:23
Viewed: 3529
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Cirl Bunting ( /ˈsɜrl/ surl), Emberiza cirlus, is a passerine bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a group now separated by most modern authors from the finches, Fringillidae.

It breeds across southern Europe, on the Mediterranean islands and in north Africa. It is a resident of these warmer areas, and does not migrate in winter. It is common in all sorts of open areas with some scrub or trees, but has a preference for sunny slopes.

Changes in agricultural practice have affected this species very adversely at the northern fringes of its range, and in England, where it once occurred over much of the south of the country, it is now restricted to south Devon. The Cirl Bunting is the mascot on the signs for the village of Stokeinteignhead.

The Cirl Bunting is like a small Yellowhammer, 15-16.5 cm in length (wing-span 22-22.5 cm)[2] with a thick seed-eater's bill. The male has a bright yellow head, with a black crown, eyestripe and throat, and a greenish breast band across its otherwise yellow underparts, and a heavily streaked brown back. The female is much more like the Yellowhammer, but has a streaked grey-brown rump and chestnut shoulders.

The monotonous song of the cock is rattling trill, like Arctic Warbler or the terminal rattle of Lesser Whitethroat.

In the summer their natural food consists of invertebrates for example grasshoppers and crickets to feed their chicks. In the winter they feed on small seeds from Over-wintered stubbles, fallow land, Set-aside, and the over-winter feeding of stock with grain or hay. They tend to feed in flocks during the winter.

The nest is on the ground, within dense cover such as that provided by thick hedgerows and scrub. The ideal scrub is said to be blackthorn, hawthorn, bramble and gorse. The breeding season runs from April until mid-September, potentially having 3 broods in total. They are sedentary in nature and will often travel only 250m from their nests to forage in summer, and up to 2 km in winter to find stubbles.

2-5 eggs are laid, which show the hair-like markings characteristic of those of buntings.

Therefore the ideal farmland habitat is a mixture of grass and arable fields, divided by thick hedgerows with pockets of dense scrub.
bungbing, PaulLees, Argus, joska, Athila has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Zeno,
Excellent shot of this Cirl Bunting, very good details sharpness, nice low point of view and lovely colours contrast against the blue sky,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice evening,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

Ciao Zeno, lovely bird in nice pose, on a beautiful blue sky, wonderful natural colors and fine details, very well done my friend, bravo, ciao Silvio

Hi Zeno,

very nice capture of this fine Cirl Bunting, super detailed sharpness, good feather texture with a nice highlighted eye, lovely natural colours and fabulous pose, great job well done,
Best Regards my friend and have a nice evening,

Pauly.

Beautiful colours, nice background and good details. regards yiannis

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2011-06-14 9:34]

Hello Zeno,
A superb capture of a Cirl Bunting against a clear sky, Excellent lighting, colours, sharpness and composition. I only saw one in Levos, and that was near the Petra dam!
Thanks and best regards,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-06-14 10:16]

Hallo Zeno,
Deze Cirlgors heb ik ook een paar keer op de foto, maar lang niet zo mooi als deze. Ik kreeg ze niet dichtbij. Want wat is ie mooi!
Fantastische foto in schitterende kleuren. Misschien wat verzadiging toegevoegd? Het is in elk geval een beauty! Uitstekende scherpte en details en een pracht van een compositie.
Groet,
Peter

  • Great 
  • joska Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 806 W: 0 N: 4092] (22535)
  • [2011-06-14 10:54]

Hi Zeno,
Another splendid photo, this time of Emberiza cirlus, male, great colors and very fine details, TFS!

Hello Zeno,
An excellent capture of this lovely little bird taken from perfect POV with wonderful sharp details. Nice colours and impressive composition. Well done!
Regards,
Mircea

  • Great 
  • Athila Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 335 W: 239 N: 493] (1982)
  • [2011-06-15 18:13]

Bonsoir Zeno,

Nice capture. Good sharpness, nice dark exposure rendering some nice deep saturated colors. The low POV isolate nicely your subject against the blue BG. Good work and TFS.

Alain

Hello Zeno
Interesting bird and beautiful photo with good composition and good sharpness. The colours are fantastic.
Regards,
Christodoulos

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