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Blue tit in the garden


Blue tit in the garden
Photo Information
Copyright: Valerie Schnepp (valy67) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1318 W: 52 N: 1782] (5276)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-03-24
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 350D, Canon EF 55-200mm 4.5-5.6 II USM
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/400 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-04-13 14:50
Viewed: 822
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Some weeks ago I visited my aunt, she is feeding the bird birdson her window so there are always many birds around her house - blue tits, great tits, and some others I didn't identify yet. Although my aunt has two cats, the birds are not so shy and it is easy to take pictures. This one was shot through a glass window (too cold outside to open the window), and it is only one among many other pictures I managed to take during my visit. It is the best, though, I think.


Blue tit - Cyanistes caeruleus

Length: 11.5 cm
Wing Span: 17.5-20 cm
Weight: 9-12.5 g

At first glance the acrobatic and cheeky Blue Tit is a blue and yellow bird. A closer inspection reveals bright blue wings, tail and crown, yellow underparts, greenish back and mantle, white cheeks, and black eye stripe, bib and collar. They also have a black streak down the middle of the belly, and a white wing bar (across the coverts). The bill is black and the legs are a blue-grey. The sexes are similar, though the female is slightly paler. The juvenile birds are duller than the adults and have greener crown, wings and tail, and yellow cheeks.

Blue Tits feed mostly on insects, especially caterpillars, and seeds. In springtime they feed also on pollen, nectar and sap, and in the autumn on berries. In the garden they search among the plants and crevices for insects (e.g. aphids, beetles, and caterpillars) and spiders, but also take sunflower hearts or high energy seed from bird feeders, or peck at a suet food bar or peanuts.

They are one of the most agile birds, and they will entertain for hours by hanging upside down from feeders, branches, etc. They are also opportunists and will often peck through foil milk bottle tops for the cream.

Blue Tits, and other tits, also peck putty around windows, usually at winter time. Some may simply be hungry and attracted to the linseed oil in the putty, though it is thought more likely that they are simply searching for food

Blue Tits will nest in any hole in a tree, wall or nest box. They are well known for nesting in more unusual places, such as letter boxes, pipes, etc. The nest is a cup made by the female from moss, wool, dead leaves, spiders' webs, and lined with down. Their clutch size is the largest among nidicolous species, laying typically 10 to 12 eggs. The eggs are laid at such a time that green caterpillars will be abundant when the chicks hatch. Second clutches are rare. The eggs are smooth and glossy, and white with purplish-red or reddish-brown spots. They are about 16 mm by 12 mm. The female incubates the eggs by herself. After the young hatch, they are fed by both parents.
Art_R, rcrick, Miss_Piggy, pablominto, SueThomson, Alex99, izler, Hil, CeltickRanger, jusninasirun, spalaxtr, boreocypriensis, inked has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 201 W: 16 N: 483] (1995)
  • [2008-04-13 15:24]

Hi Valerie , very nice warm colors , the details composition and pose are good too, TFS.

regards

Art

  • Great 
  • rcrick Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 42 N: 1198] (3854)
  • [2008-04-13 15:40]

Hi Valerie,

Wonderful shot of this little Blue Tit, the detail in the plumage is just fantastic, beautiful colours too, excellent separation from the OOF background, lovely work,

Cheers Rick :)

hello valerie,
this one looks very cute, i liked the color tones specially the bg, well composed shot,
tfs & regards
pankaj

wonderfull capture, nice deep sharpness and nice color

Hi Valerie

Good capture and sharpness.
Beautiful colors.

regards gert

Hallo Valerie
These birds are posted very often on Trek Nature, but it is one of those which do not bore me. It is always a delight for me to look at them. The different layers of colour and markings in the plumage are just great. The composition and pose is great, and I like the way the bird is looking back. I also fancy the blue tuft, the grey pearl coloured beak and the flash light you captured in the eye. Thanks for sharing this delightful photo.
Best regards
Anna

Hello Valerie,
Those guys are numerous around my place too, and they compete for food with the magpies!
This is a lovely portrait with sharp fine details in the plumage, good light and a nice pose...
Effective point of view and a pleasant composition!
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Valerie
He looks very cold! A beautiful picture with lovely colours and incredible sharpness. The background colours help make this a truly lovely photograph.
Cheers
Sue

Bonjour,
Belle pose pour cette belle mésange.
Bonne journée.
clnaef

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3160 W: 148 N: 4787] (15449)
  • [2008-04-14 8:57]

Hi Valerie.
You managed to picture a very cute photo model. Its pose and haircut, head turning and costume are amazing. Composition of the shot is brilliant as well as the bright well blurred BG. Bravo, Perfect job.
Alexei.

wonderful capture!beautiful colors,great details and sharpness!

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 750 W: 11 N: 1442] (4951)
  • [2008-04-14 11:56]

Hi Valerie

Superb close up shot of the Blue Tit.
Well composed with a excellent POV and a lovely pose with the tit turning its head very nicely.
The details are good for a shot through glass.
Beautiful pastel colours and lovely light

Hil

bonjour Valerie

belle image du Mésange Bleue, excellent POV, DOF et cadrage vertical,
très belle luminosité de l'image avec de superbes netteté
et détails du plumage, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • SkyF Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2390 W: 194 N: 1991] (8113)
  • [2008-04-15 11:10]

Bonjour Valerie,
looks wonderful, the colors and POV are very nice. Lovely OOF BG that shows off the little Blue tit very well. Sharpness, lighting and the composition look great.
TFS..Sky

  • Great 
  • izler Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1325 W: 79 N: 916] (8534)
  • [2008-04-15 11:37]

hello Valerie
good capture of this cute bird
i like POV, BG, DOF, colours and informative note
TFS
regards
izler

Hello Valerie. You have got yourself an excellent capture here. Pristine sharpness and excellent detail of the image. Well perched with superbly muted background. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day. Regards. Jusni

Ohhhh, elle est superbe cette mésange bleue toute ébouriffée, la photo est excellente avec toutes les qualités techniques auxquelles tu nous a habitués,
très joli background aussi
un grand bravo pour ce très beau post
amicalement,
Pat

Hi Valerie,
Very nice photo with good details and composition. TFS. Regards,
Mustafa

Hello Valerie,
Splendid and lovely capture of this beauty my friend! Your notes are also excellent.
TFS.
Cheers,
Bayram

  • Great 
  • inked Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 134 W: 0 N: 230] (694)
  • [2008-04-29 2:12]

hi Valerie,
great shot of this Blue Tit with his scruffy feathers. cute little birds. great pose and very nicely lit. plenty of detail and well composed. nice work! tfs
Gethin

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-17 8:22]

Hello Valerie

A lovely composition with the diagonal branch.
Very well focused with sharp detail.
The lighting has produced lovely natural and rich colour.
Nicely done.
TFS

Rob

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