Bright Headed Cisticola (Cisticola exilis)

Near Kemmangundi, Western Ghats, Karnataka, India

25 November 2005

We reached the grassland, the habitat of the BHC at around 10am. After spending some time, we were able to spot the cisticola. But getting it in the frame was not an easy job, especially with the big lens. It used to pop up for a second and disappear under the grass. Then it used to pop up at a different place. Yathin was able to get some decent shots as he was moving around hand holding his lens. But we were fixed at one place with the tripod. After spending around 2 hrs, we decided to give it a break and try it again after some time or the next day.
We were on our way back to the resort and were passing the grassland where we had tried the BHC. Also, both Yathin and Vijay had got a decent document shot of this bird and I was there without even the tail of this bird. That's when I decided to leave the tripod behind and go after the bird hand holding my 500mm with the 1.4x converter. Even before yathin stopped the vehicle at the grassland, I got off and just walked away in to the tall grassland. I disappeared behind hills and was greeted by some 5-6 BHC's. I was so thrilled to see them, but at the same time was challenging to get them in the view finder. I finally managed to get some decent shots hand holding the lens.

Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS and 1.4xII on Canon 30D using Bogen 3021BPRO and Wimberly Head. ISO 400, 1/500 @ f5.6, Evaluative Mode at Zero.