“Equally surprised”
This stoat popped out from under a rock I'd chosen as the foreground for a landscape photo in the Vallée de la Clarée, and we were both equally surprised. She quickly returned to the shelter.
By the time I got out my second camera, with a telephoto lens, she pleasantly surprised me by coming out, no doubt to see what olibrius had surprised her as she went hunting. I only had time to take 3 photos, including this one, where she graced me with a beautiful pose.
Stoats spend four to five hours a day hunting. They move by leaps and bounds, often skirting rivers, low walls or hedges. It also has a habit of standing up on its hind legs to see farther.
I only found out later that this camera was configured for JPEG and not RAW, and I hadn't had time to set a faster shutter speed. The photo is blurry, but I managed to get a shot of an stoat, so it's not too bad.
🔎 https://nicolas-hoizey.photo/photos/equally-surprised/
📅 16 October 2023
📸 Fujifilm X-T3 + 100-400mm
🎛️ ISO 160, ƒ/8, 1/160 s
#Travel #TravelPhotography #Europe #France #ProvenceAlpesCoteDAzur #HautesAlpes #ValleeDeLaClaree #Photography #Fujifilm #Fuji #XT3
Awwwww just love these little critters!
Saw my first real live stoat last month in the Arctic. He was accustomed to rummaging beneath the decking at a cabin we were staying in. Wasn't too shy. Was night time so didn't bother with a photo.
Happy to have shared his company for a bit.
nhoizey
I suppose stoats are still almost all white at this time of year in the Arctic. It must have been a very nice experience too!