Wildlife in the Trees

Birds of the Forest

Today was a beautiful, bright, sunny morning—the kind that pulls you out of bed with the promise of perfect light. I managed to get to the park as early as I could to ensure my photos captured that fleeting, dawn sunrise.

I decided to walk down to the Water Meadows, one of the quietest corners of the park. It’s a sanctuary away from the hum of the car park and the busy visitor’s centre. As I rounded the corner at the bottom of the path, the stillness was broken by a soft, rustling coming from the gnarled deciduous tree above my head.

There he was: a gorgeous Grey Squirrel perched precariously amongst the branches, busily nibbling on a nut. I was taken aback by his coat; in the harsh light of midday, they often look plain, but here his fur was glowing with rich orange hues and warm browns, ignited by the low-slung sun. Normally, the slightest snap of a twig sends them zooming into the undergrowth, but this little fellow seemed content to stay, poking his nose out from behind a branch like he was playing a game of hide-and-seek.

I’m sure he knew I was there, but he granted me a rare moment of stillness. I reached for the Automatic mode on my camera—I'm still mastering the manual nuances, and I didn't want to fumble with apertures and shutter speeds while this perfect model was posing. Moments later, he caught me glancing over and darted around the trunk. I repositioned myself, catching one last frame of him mid-leap before he vanished into the upper canopy.

With the meadows falling silent, I decided to trek over to Moorlands Mead, a spot I hadn't yet explored near the barriers, across from the carpark. As I strolled along the winding path I came to a clearing teeming with activity. It was a literal "bird choir" so I decided to set up my tripod and see what I capture.

The ground was a challenge with thick, soft mud. Having expected to stay on the gravel paths, I was still wearing my Uggs, which are quickly becoming a casualty of my dedication my new hobby! I set up my tripod in the mud, grateful for the stability it offered. Even with the road nearby, the birdsong drowned out the modern world. Using the tripod for the first time on birds was a game-changer; it allowed me to frame the "stage" and wait for the actors to fly in.

Again, I decided to shoot in automatic for these pictures, they were moving far too quickly off the branches for me to take time going through the settings for each shot. The backlight was stunning. In post-editing, the bokeh turned into a wash of blue and orange hues, making the following visitors truly pop:

The Blue Tit - The first to arrive was the Blue Tit, a tiny ball of kinetic energy. These birds never seem to sit still, but the morning sun caught the brilliant cobalt of its cap and the sulphur-yellow of its breast perfectly. In the frame, it looked like a living jewel against the soft-focus branches.

The Long-Tailed Tit - Next came the "flying teaspoons." The Long-Tailed Tit is always a joy to photograph because of its unique silhouette. A pair of them landed briefly, their pinkish-grey feathers looking soft and velvety in the dawn light. They moved with a restless, acrobatic grace that tested my reaction time even on automatic mode. I didn’t catch them both together, but did get one on his own.

The Great Tit - A more bold visitor, the Great Tit, landed with a sense of authority. The black "necktie" stripe down its yellow front was sharp and clear against the morning glow. It paused just long enough for me to capture him silent for a moment, with the a stark and beautiful contrast to the warm orange and blue background.

The Robin - No morning session is complete without the gardener’s friend. The Robin perched nearby, puffing out its chest and in song. That iconic red-orange breast seemed to catch the sunrise and amplify it. It watched me with a curious, dark eye, providing that classic, soulful wildlife shot that every photographer hopes for. He kept singing just long enough for me to shoot the scene, then he was gone.

I was happy with the pictures I took today and the post editing results were good, but I know I can do better and I definitely need to look at my camera settings more closely to be able to get even better shots........next time I want to be better prepared.