Hermine / Ermin

Posted by Suzanne Labbé (Granby, Canada) on 21 April 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Quelle belle et étrange rencontre. J'appelais un quiscale pour le photographier et j'entendis un bruit derrière moi. Je pense à un oiseau, me retourne et je vois un bruant chanteur et ce que je crois être un autre qui bouge à la base d'un arbuste. Tout à coup, je vois une petite tête ! Je l'appelle en faisant des pshhhhh pshhhh comme pour un oiseau et elle s'approche à environ 1m de moi. Je prends une photo, elle détale dans l'arbuste . Je l'appelle encore, elle revient au même endroit ! 6 fois comme ça. J'étais partagée entre l'excitation et une petite peur de me faire mordre un mollet :o) C'est qu'elles sont réputées pour être très voraces ces petites bêtes... / What a beautiful and strange encounter. I called a quiscale to photograph it and I hear a noise behind me. I think it is bird, I turn myself and I see a song sparrow and what I believe to be another one that moves at the base of a shrub. Suddenly, I see a small head! I call it doing pshhhhh pshhhh like for a bird and it approaches me about 1m. I take a picture and it returns in the shrub. I callagain, it come at the same place! 6 times like this. I was split between excitement and a little frightness of being bite at a calf: o) They are deemed to be very voracious these little beasts ...

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

oh Comme il est mignon lol

21 Apr 2008 5:58am

Marion from Nanaimo, BC, Canada

Excellent capture and I also understand that they can be quite vicious, so you are very brave.

21 Apr 2008 6:05am

Ana Lúcia from Leiria, Portugal

Excellent shot.

21 Apr 2008 8:48am

Marie-Hélène from Morocco

Curieuse et vive ...et chacune de vous "photographiant " l'autre ! Belle rencontre et belle et rare photo !

21 Apr 2008 10:39am

Florence from Paris, France

Une bien petite créature, il est si rare de les voir (vivantes) ici ! :-[
Adorable photo Suzanne !

21 Apr 2008 4:06pm

Henry from Boston, United States

What a great shot and a great story! Thanks for sharing. Often people do not write enough about their images.

21 Apr 2008 4:42pm

Melissa W. from Warsaw, Indiana, United States

It makes you wonder how something so cute and furry could be so vicious. Wonderful story. Great capture!

21 Apr 2008 5:55pm

Ronnie 2¢ from London, United Kingdom

Melissa has it right – these can be vicious little beasts despite their cute looks. What a remarkable a remarkable image you have here.

21 Apr 2008 6:44pm

Barbara from Florida, United States

Astonishing capture. Close and still long enough for a wonderful shot. It looks young. I enjoyed your story as well.

22 Apr 2008 1:08am

akarui from Kagoshima, Japan

Superbe rencontre Suzanne! Les hermines ne sont pas tres aimees surtout des paysans car ce sont des animaux qui peuvent faire des degats, en particuliers dans les poulaillers mais elles ne s'attaquent pas a l'homme.

22 Apr 2008 1:57am

Aayawa from Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Excellent picture. I read an article about stoat swarms a while back that would make me want to get up a tree as quick as possible.

7 May 2008 9:29pm

Françoise from Brienne la Vieille, France

Quelle merveilleuse rencontre et une magnifique photo. Mille bravos !

6 Nov 2008 6:21pm

Loner from Wörgl, Austria

You must b very often in nature, because you can make such photos !

15 Jun 2009 3:33pm

@Loner: Loner, you are right. I am in nature every free time I have !!!