Hoopoe, Extremadura

Around the old Olive Groves and rocky outcrops with sandy bankings surrounding our Finca there was a perfect habitat for Hoopoes. They could be heard calling from dawn to dusk, with their Hoop,Hoop,Hoop always three calls. There was a very good population in the area, getting a photograph, however, was a different matter. They were extremely shy and elusive, they would fly right past us in the garden but wouldn't land and try as I did I couldn't get near them. Some mornings I had noticed a Hoopoe perching on a stone wall surrounding one of the Olive Groves and on two particular stones on top of the wall near to an irrigation ditch, every morning the Sun came up over the Sierra dead on 08.00 and shone on these stones. The Hoopoe could be seen sitting in the rays of the Sun uttering its familiar call. There was an old arch way about forty feet from these two stones and I decided to hide in there quite early and hope that it landed on its favourite spot.
It couldn't see me from along either wall only from these two stones, by then I hoped it would be too late and I could get a shot.
Time went on and up came the Sun right on cue at 08.00 but no Hoopoe, I waited another ten minutes and then in it came right on the spot. I kept dead still and fired the shutter, I expected it to fly away immediately but it stayed there, it could here me but because I was in the arch it couldn't make out what it was. I had some lovely shots before it finally flew away, I repeated this MO for a few mornings with more success.