If, like me, you’ve ever thought that ducks aren’t the brightest of birds, think again. Instead of dabbling and chasing children with bread these Mallards are standing in the mill race at Rufford Abbey waiting for it to bring food to them.
Spotted the Grey Wagtail and Goldcrest whilst standing here – both off like a shot as soon as I raised the camera!
This Song Thrush, after allowing us time for one shot, decided to hide in an outcrop of twiggy growth.
Here is a selection of shots from the bird table in the woods, it feels a bit like cheating when I should be stalking them through the woods. Even so, I still missed a Coal Tit and a Marsh Tit that dropped in but shot off too quickly for me to focus.
Three Long Tailed Tits also dropped in but for some reason the autofocus couldn’t lock on. I had three shots of blurred round bodies and long tails. Oh, the trials of bird photography!
Finally I managed some more half-decent Nuthatch photos, including one on a tree. However, to put it into perspective, I missed shots of three different Treecreepers in the woods (ending up with several shots of tree trunks).
I also had several Siskin shots – blurred bodies shielded by alder twigs. Lots of work to do!
I enjoyed the bird shots! Quite a selection, including the squirrel.
Thanks. 🙂
When you look into it, a lot of those snappy bird shots were taken by people sitting in hides with tempting snacks and handy branches set up just outside….and they have big lenses and wear camouflage trousers too. Yours were jolly good. Of course a person that I know just sits in his kitchen taking his shots. What a scoundrel.
Yes, I’m planning some scoundrelly moves myself, involving false branches and the dining room window. 🙂
Good scheme. Super glue may help to detain a possible percher too!
I am really tempted, particularly after a selection of slippery birds this afternoon.
Fun to see how many birds live in both England and Maine. Also, fun to see birds that are different 😉
Yes, it’s very interesting seeing the different species.
Better and better photos, Quercus. Smart ducks
Thanks – I keep trying.
With an ordinary camera, I have always found it next to impossible to get in focus pictures of birds.
I seem to be following in your footsteps…
I know how difficult it is and have virtually given up trying to get decent bird pictures. This is a great selection of birds (and squirrel)! The great tit has a very glossy head.
Yes, the glossy black cap was a bonus.