Coal Tit

After my last post I have been playing around with different perches, as suggested. I have been unwell and not able to venture out too far to find any logs etc yet.
Sadly the bird seems to hide behind the leaves a bit in this, but I was chuffed to get it. Such a difficult subject considering their speed! Taken through glass.

40D, 300mm +1.4 tc,ISO800,f6.3,1/400th sec. Cropped for comp., neat image.

Fran

The Coal Tit itself is really cracking, but as you say the perch has worked against you here.

I don’t think it is just the perch, I think it might also be something to do with its orientation, to the feeder.

Keep working at it, it will all come together soon.

I always find coal tits and marsh tits a problem too. They come straight in to the feeders and then straight away again and don't hang about half as much as the blue and great tits. It seems to me with perches that less is more. I would be looking for somethin a little more sparse in the leaf department. I'm still tryting to get to grips with them myself. that's come out well considering it is through glass and I must try that more often.
eric

The bird is looking good Fran, but i think the image is overpowered by the very busy perch. I hope you are feeling better and are able to get out and about a bit more. Hopefully we will get together soon.

tony

I tend to agree with the above comments, the bird is nicely captured but does look a bit swamped by the perch. That said, I am usually fairly pleased with myself if I manage to get any shot of a Coal Tit that doesn't show it's blurred rump disappearing into the distance.

Matt

Nice capture fran. I have found these birds difficult to photograph too. I quite like the perch it is the bird in its natural enviroment.

Lee

The pano crop works great but the image doesn't quite work for me if I'm honest, mainly as I find the vegetaion a little over-powering for the bird and the fact that he's looking away from the camera.
Hope you're feeling better soon.

Yes they can be a pain. ! Perch a bit busy but looks fairly natural.
One bit of advice - take any other feeders down during your session. If you get a lot of birds on one feeder it will make them "queue up" You can get them whilst they're waiting their turn!
Works for me.
Cheers
JohnR

Thanks once again everyone for yourr opinions and advice. I am in full agreement with you all, but wanted to see what your reactions were to this.

Thanks for the tip John but I am aware of their queuing system. My lot tend to queue deep in nearby bushes and shrubs, despite there being one or two little temptations near the feeder! I will get them all trained before long

Regards,

Fran