The bluethroat (Luscinia svecica, syn.: Cyanecula svecica, Cyanosylvia svecica) is a species of songbird in the flycatcher family (Muscicapidae). It gets its name from the striking blue colouring of its throat and forechest, which the male displays in breeding plumage. Depending on the subspecies, there is a central white or red "star" on this background. The ten subspecies are therefore divided into two groups, the white-starred bluethroat and the red-starred bluethroat (tundra bluethroat). In some subspecies, however, the star is missing.
I photographed this red-starred male in the Stormarn district (Schleswig-Holstein) during the mating season at the beginning of May - an absolute rarity, as this is the distribution area of the white-starred bluethroat.
"Let the most absent-minded man fall into the deepest reverie - put that man on his feet, set him in motion, and he will lead you unerringly to the water." (Herman Melville)
It could be that this is why most of my photos are taken by the water -..
Read more…