Back to the Birds

One of the joys of the early autumn is the reappearance of so many birds, feasting before winter sets in. The trees are beginning to shed their leaves, allowing at least a chance for a the camera to penetrate into the branches.
Blue Tit busy feeding

Chaffinch

Chiffchaff

On that previous shot, I've stuck my neck out and gone for chiffchaff, though as ever it could be a willow warbler (which was my initial thought). The head seems flat enough for the warbler identification, but the slightly staccato song makes me think it's a chiffchaff.

This next bird is unmistakeable though. A pretty long-tailed tit, one of a small flock.
Long-tailed tit

The final of today's feathered friends was caught on the wing. Like the blue tit it was busy feeding, though rather than berries this bird has a particular taste for acorns. Yes, it's my first jay of the autumn.
Jay carrying acorn

I'm going to close with a picture of the bold vixen. Partly because if I don't there's a risk that there won't be a fox on the front page, but also because if I'm being true to what I've seen then she has to feature. She's still hopping most of the time, though I have seen her put some weight on the injured leg. She's still curling up and sleeping at the front of the garden. And she's still pursuing hedgehogs behind the roses.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all the birds were photographed with the EF 400mm f/5.6L USM lens. The vixen was photographed with the EF70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS lens. All shots with the 400D.

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Cynthia23

    25 Sep 2009

    Oh cool, Words! :up:

  2. gdare

    25 Sep 2009

    That jay with acorn is a nice catch 😀

  3. RobinL

    25 Sep 2009

    A very nice set of pictures! I really like the Jay and the Chaffinch is really nice.

  4. SittingFox

    25 Sep 2009

    Isn't it nice to discover that we do have birds in this country after all :whistle: I'm looking forward to seeing the big winter finch flocks return 🙂

    Great shots, all! Love the jay in flight :up:

  5. Ukwildlife

    25 Sep 2009

    Great bird photos. Im looking forwar to my first autumn/winter with a 500mm lens, hopefully letting me capture those birds that were out of reach last year and hiding behind the leaves (or breeding further north) all summer.

  6. Words

    27 Sep 2009

    Neil, yes the extra reach will definitely come into its own this time of year and with so many of the smaller birds around.

  7. Words

    27 Sep 2009

    Cynthia, thanks!

  8. Words

    27 Sep 2009

    Darko, the jay thought so too 😉

  9. Words

    27 Sep 2009

    Adele, yes it's easy to get spoilt for choice knowing what to photograph. Blue skies too! Perfect.

  10. Words

    27 Sep 2009

    Robin, thanks! There are so many to choose from at the moment.

  11. Bobfisher08

    1 Oct 2009

    Fantastic pictures of those lovely small birds. You got it.

    Greetings.

  12. Words

    1 Oct 2009

    Thank you!

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