Leighton Moss with Bearded Tits

Bearded Reedling in Leighton Moss reed-bed

From today's cache of Bearded Tit images here's a favourite.  I might almost count the number of ginger feathers in the fanned tail. Black vent and under-tail  complement   drooping black moustachios against a soft white breast. How might this fluffed-up portly little bird feel in the hand? It's been ringed so someone knows.  We cluster round the grit trays, cameras clicking- hoping for images of the Bearded Tit. Also named the  Bearded Reedling of reed-bed habitat.

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 Bearded Reedling feed on insects and reed seeds and nest low in the reeds.  Three of  them call from their reed-bed habitat. They flit nimbly amongst the reeds, then alight  on grit trays where we hope for the classic photograph, sharp-focus showing distinctive 'beard' or moustachios, that long golden tail they often flick and raise .  The male's head is blue-grey, his beak orange.  He's a colourful and exotic -looking creature.  
He flits amongst the reeds then his black claws cling on.  A fringe of tiny white feathers shows on his body.  
Photographing them pecking up grit is the classic. It's harder to find them in the reeds and  that sometimes has them at odd angles with a reed  between the moustachios.  And I like the quirky angle and stance. Sometimes legs akimbo as the bird clings to a reed at either side of its body.

 The more conventional images are often when the birds are pecking up grit from the trays, grit to help their digestion of reed-seeds.   They're out in the open so it's a good photo-opportunity. 

There are some dozen Common Snipe in the reeds along the water's edge.  They're small birds with distinctive long bills and a habit of roosting quiet and still amongst the reeds.  I've spent so many hours watching them over the years, and editing images, that I pick-up the golden stripes on their heads quickly.  And they are often to be found in this spot.  Camouflage is excellent, so they're hard to show.  A pattern of weathered  reeds surrounds them, with a stipple of reed-remnants over  the water. 

On a sunlit December morning there's gloss and sheen on the water where the warm colour of the reed-beds is reflected.  Beyond, the winter wood is a palette of muted shades.  There's a scatter of birds further out-  roosting, their heads tucked into their feathers.  Most are shoveler, with coot, the occasional gadwall and teal.   Close to the hide, a shoveler is preening,  presenting patterns of feathers, his reflection mirrored in the still water. An interlude of feather-care.  On a stony island a swan stretches its powerful  wings to show  a density of flight-feathers on the underwing.  The shag beside it is small by comparison.
Below, a swan lake sequence.