MARSH TIT- NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK

LONG TAILED TIT

COAL TIT-NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK

GREAT TIT - NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK - JAN 2011

BLUE TIT - NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK - JAN 2011

The Blue Tit is a wonderful bird to photograph, always very active and flighty so to get some good portrait shots of this tiny bird is a real pleasure. I find the light is important with these birds as strong sunlight can bleach out the natural colours. Most of these shots were taken at Eyeworth Pond in the New Forest. At this location the birds are used to being fed,and therefore, appreciate some easy food, particularly in cold weather. On this occasion it was bitterly cold which seemed to bring in the forest birds. On one occasion a Blue Tit landed on my shoulder as it waited its turn at the feeder.

WREN-FRENDOWN-MARCH 2011

The Wren is a tiny bird with brown plumage. Widespread and quite common throughout the UK. This bird feeds fairly low in bushes and presents a challenge to photograph. Beautiful warbling song with a rattling alarm call. Some of these shots were taken in my back garden during early spring. I feel I should spend some more time photographing these birds as they are right on my doorstep. !! A challenge for the future

FIRECREST- RSPB ARNE- SEPT 2011

The Firecrest vies with its cousin the Goldcrest as the UK's smallest bird. They are certainly very similar and both favour similar habitat. The Firecrest is by far the rarest of the two. I can find Goldcrests without too many problems. The Firecrest has been a real challenge and these shots are one of my highlights of 2011. I have followed up any Firecrest sighting on local blogs without success. I was aware they have been seen wintering at RSPB Arne. By chance I was sat on a bench when I noticed a Firecrest on a berry tree almost within touching distance.I saw a few more searching through thick bushes. I decided to place out a few perches and waited in hope. Amazingly a male bird landed on one of these perches while providing me with some excellent photographic opportunities. I was almost at eye level which was a real bonus. I doubt I will get a better opportunity to get such clean shots.