Red-breasted Flycatcher

I knew from many posts to social media that a female red-breasted flycatcher was wintering in some park in Tokyo and I was hoping to figure out where that was. Finally I got that information and headed to the park. Quite soon after arriving to the park I detected the beautiful bird. I was the first photographer to arrive on that day and I got to photograph her alone for about 10 minutes. She wasn’t very shy and seemed to look at me curiously. Little by little more photographers would follow and it got more difficult to find and capture her.

After some time she suddenly moved to a small Japanese apricot tree grove. The area was fenced and maybe she knew already from experience that no people would go over the fence so she could keep hunting insects without anyone coming too close. At that time the number of photographers was approximately 15-20 people. Many of them had captured her several times already but there were a few newcomers like me, too.

Red-breasted flycatchers are not very common in Japan and having to photograph one with apricot blossoms was a dream come true. Unlike males with their rusty-orange throat and breast, the females look somewhat modest with their brown backs and lighter underparts. I especially like this bird’s elegant posture and beautiful black eyes and I hope to be able to get another chance to photograph her. Hopefully on that day the light isn’t as harsh as it was this time.

ソーシャルメディア等で東京のどこかの公園でメスのニシオジロビタキがいると知っていました。やっと私もその情報をゲットし、公園に駆けつけました。着いたら直ぐにその可愛い鳥を発見しました。他のカメラマンが来るまで10分ぐらい一人だけで撮影できました。好奇心豊かな目で私を見つめたように見えました。

カメラマンが次第に増え、鳥は隠れたりして、撮るのは難しくなりましたが、しばらくしましたら、近くの梅林に移動してくれました。梅林はフェンスに囲まれて、人が入って来ないと経験から知ったかもしれません。人の存在をそれほど気にせずに梅林の中で長い間虫を探し続けました。

ニシオジロビタキのメスは少し地味ですが、綺麗な黒目に優雅なポーズでとても美しい鳥です。梅林の中で撮れたのは夢みたいでした。もう一度機会があれば、もっと柔らかい光線を願っています。