Isabelline Wheatear

Was this bird Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) named after a soiled underwear? I hope it was not, but and interesting story goes like this. Isabella was the Archduchess of Austria and in 1601 her father Philip II of Spain laid siege to Ostend, which was under the Dutch. A successful siege here would ensure Spanish victory and in a joyous fervor Isabella vowed not to change her intimate undergarments until the city was taken. Unfortunetly for her, the seige ended only in 1604, nearly 3 years after she had taken the vow, leading to this off-colour word for over-worn underwear ( Isabellin colour is described as greyish-yellow colour). I have not idea of the authenticity of this story, but surely tickled my trivial instincts.
This insectivorous bird, landed on board during its migratory journey towards Africa from Asia. Out ship was off the Syrian coast heading towards Italy.

Pied Wheatear - Male

This migrating Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) landed on board when we were off Libya. It was a very shy bird and very hard to track, our ship was approaching port and I ran short of time to continue tracking the bird. Its really sad, that similar species did not land on board again and missed to photograph a close up, like the way I wanted. This bird like other Wheatears is insectivorous and I'm sure must have relished on the innumerable dragonflies on board.
Hoping to get better photographs, when I meet this bird next, hopefully on land.

Northern Wheatear

This Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)may be a tiny bird, but it makes one of the longest migratory journey for a bird of its size. This bird landed on board, when my ship was en route to Egypt (Mediterranean coast), the bird like its ancestors was on its way to sub Sahara Africa, from Europe. These birds like all their ancestors fly down to Sub Saharan Africa to spend their winter and return back to Europe and central Asia for Autumn. Even birds as far as from Canada and Greenland, even if they were born there, migrate to Africa to spend their Winter.The bird was pretty wary of my presence and maintained a pretty large distance from me.
All three photographs were clicked in bright light and the Grey metallic surface of the ship reflects lots of light under exposing the subject. Hence I generally keep the camera on spot metering and read the light of the darker part of the bird ( not necessarily the darkest)

Photo details : 1. f/5.6; 1/1000 sec ; ISO 100 ; 300mm
2. f/5.6; 1/400 sec ; ISO 100 ; 300mm
3. f/5.6 ; 1/250 sec ; ISO 100 ; 300 mm

Desert Wheatear

This Desert Wheatear (Oenanthe deserti) is a bird that prefers arid land and this one landed on my ships deck when we were somewhere between the Oman and Pakistani coast. In the subcontinent the bird breeds in Pakistan and Kashmir and during winters it migrates to the south of India all the way until Sri Lanka. Hence the bird is sighted south of Kashmir mostly during winters.Eats insects loves to much on beetles
Sony H-7 with 1.7x telephoto f/8, 1/200.

Black Eared Wheatear

A Black eared Wheatear, landed on my ships deck, off the Iranian coast.The sun opposite to the bird can be seen reflected in its eye. The red deck of the ship reflecting on the bird gives it some nice warm tones, and it feels like nice twilight light. In fact it was about 3 in the evening and the sun was at it scorching best.
1/50 sec , f/8
I also used a additional 2.5x telephoto lens on my Sony H7 camera

Isabelline Wheatear

On land this Isabelline Wheatear , feeds on insects on ground. Now I wonder what did it find on the deck of my ship? other than rust flakes. I followed the bird the entire time and he kept hopping from place to place, pausing with a very upright posture to give me a glance and continue foraging.
1/100 sec , f/8 + UV filter