Home, Sweet Home

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Home, Sweet Home
Photo Information
Copyright: Ivan Kruys (Argus) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2416 W: 132 N: 6653] (20877)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-05-05
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon 400D, Canon EF 300 f4L + Canon 1.4 converter
Exposure: f/11, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-05-06 22:04
Viewed: 421
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 64
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
A male Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulus) is working on his half-built nest. When it is completed all the sides will be built up and the entrance will be near the top through a short tunnel.

Having spent the winter from the Mediterranean area, he arrived in Sweden about two weeks ago. This is a small bird, not much bigger than a wren.

The basic structure is made of grass stems. He is now lining it with the down from sallow catkins and bulrush hairs. His beak is needle sharp, enabling him to pick and carefully place material for this intricate hanging construction. He has to work fast so that he may even build one or two more and try to persuade a female to choose one of his constructions in which to lay her eggs.

He often calls with a thin ‘Tseee’ sound to mark his presence and sometimes pauses to break into a short little song, which both marks his territory and attracts a female.

This bird is not a Tit at all, but belongs to a separate family. It is not uncommon in certain parts of C. and E. Europe. It is sparsely distributed in S. Sweden where there is water, reed-beds sallow and birch. It seems to prefer the tips of hanging birch branches, presumably because they provide a good hold for the nest.

Ulla and I visited a nature reserve and we first heard the calls of the Penduline Tit before finding its nest. Just as we began to try to take pictures it began to get windy and the nest was swaying a lot, which meant many attempts to get a reasonable shot among all the leaves and branches. I should have increased the shutterspeed, but one forgets things when concentrating on getting the subject.

This was taken with the camera hand-held at a distance of about 8 meters. After moderate cropping and size reduction the image was selectively sharpened.

I tried to take a shot of the bird when not building his nest and failed to get a good POV but the WORKSHOP shows my best attempt and it shows the sharp little beak.
Art_R, nglen, boreocypriensis, meyerd, Janice, SueThomson, nkasot, maurydv, haraprasan, iris, cloud, MMM, zulfu, darwin, matatur, jaycee, Maite, jignasi, PaulH, Amadeo, fartash, rousettus, CeltickRanger, claudine has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To ralfsworld: ThanksArgus 1 05-08 05:25
To matatur: ThanksArgus 1 05-07 08:56
To Janice: PendulumArgus 1 05-07 01:19
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Art_R Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 164 W: 13 N: 389] (1537)
  • [2008-05-06 22:37]

Hi Ivan , I really like this one , the photo is well taken nice color and detail , the subject is great , very interesting , what a fantastic little builder.

regards

Art

  • Great 
  • mariki Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 841 W: 67 N: 1555] (6903)
  • [2008-05-06 23:16]

Hello Ivan,

Excellent picture of this penduline tit. Great focus on the bird. Superb colours.
Cheers,
Mariki

A great environmental shot showing the Tit at home in its nest.
Excellent capture Ivan ... a very 'Euro' shot.
Cheers
Steve

  • Great 
  • meyerd Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 354 W: 63 N: 974] (3009)
  • [2008-05-06 23:45]

Hi Ivan,
this is a dream of a picture, something I wish to achieve one day: the Penduline tit in its nest! The composition with the many branches works very well. Wonderful shot!
Best regards
Dietrich

It's a beautiful nest Ivan. What a clever father-to-be he is.
Is he called a Penduline Tit because his nest is like a pendulum, hanging from a branch and swaying? The WS is agood pic for us to see him better
TFS
Janice

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1133 W: 259 N: 2406] (10803)
  • [2008-05-07 0:09]

Hi Ivan,

A nice capture of a bird I havent seen before,you managed to show a nice picture of this nestbuilder with a nice note to read,thanks

Paul

Yesss My friend Ivan. "home, my sweet home" :).ahhhh... you remind me my home ("homeland") with this title and excellent cute bird capture my friend. Perfect! TFS.
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Ivan
This is a great image. It is like he is knitting a jumper...it looks like wool! Nice POV, good colours and thanks for sharing.
Cheers
sue

Hello Ivan, superb capture of this lovely bird. TFS.
Regards,
Nazım

Stupenda immagine di nido in costruzione di pendolino, eccellente composizione con i rametti e le foglie che incorniciano il nido e il pendolino visto attraverso l'ovale in una perfetta scenografia, come se fosse preparata e non catturata; ottima nitidezza e bellissima luce sull'occhio, molto belli i colori. Grazie e complimentio. Ciao Maurizio

Hi Ivan,
A lovely capture of this beautiful penduline tit and the nest is very beautiful. Excellent composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 368 W: 39 N: 654] (2053)
  • [2008-05-07 1:45]

Hello Ivan,
That's a nice bit of work going on up there and a great one at that.Lovely idea to cpature the birdie and his home built half way.Good details and informative notes.The workshop sure helps in getting a better view of the bird.
THanks for sharing and cheers

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 729 W: 4 N: 1811] (8608)
  • [2008-05-07 3:14]

Hello Ivan, How you managed to find the bird inside this. Excellent composition and great sharpness. Ganesh

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 0 N: 1457] (6594)
  • [2008-05-07 5:13]

Hi Ivan
Excellent presentation.Good POV and well composed image.I like the catch light in the eye.Excellent text to.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 441 W: 0 N: 68] (472)
  • [2008-05-07 5:35]

Hello Ivan, superb perfect capture of this lovely bird. TFS. Regards,
Mehmet

Hi Ivan
Excellent capture of this Penduline Tit building his home
Fine detail and wonderful composition
Great catchlite in eye
tfs jon

Ivan,
Absolutely lovely image of this cute little bird being at ease enjoying it very well built and cozy nest. Wow, very good details on subject, with some blurred foliage to give it depth. It's good to discover your gallery. Thanks so much for sharing.
Way

Well, surely another marvel of the creative nature Ivan, captured and framed nicely to pleasure the eyes of the beholder! The proud constructor and owner clearly in evidence. What can one ask more of nature photography?
Your sharing of this fine composition gives pleasure to me, my friend.
Cordially yours,
Mehmet

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1864 W: 2 N: 4738] (18250)
  • [2008-05-07 10:29]

Hi Ivan. This is a great picture of the little bird building its nest . You have captured a good pose with the Tit looking so interested in what its doing and not at you. good detail and colours. It wouls be interesting to see the finished nest. TFs.
Nick..

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1675 W: 8 N: 4022] (13255)
  • [2008-05-07 10:55]

Hi Ivan,

I love this!! The bird looks so adorable in that beautiful nest. I have only seen a nest like this once before - posted by eng55. It really is quite amazing. A wonderful shot with lovely colors and excellent details. Very pretty with the green leaves surrounding it.

Jane

  • Great 
  • Maite Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 982 W: 64 N: 1199] (4856)
  • [2008-05-07 12:51]

Hello Ivan
What a fantastic builder this Penduline Tit is made! How beautiful it is and what a perfect timing you got to capture it through the open. It's really a magnificent shot and I love it!
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best regards
Maite

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1555 W: 233 N: 5091] (17959)
  • [2008-05-07 13:14]

Wow! What an amazing nest! That must have taken aaaaages to build!
This is an excellent capture, Ivan!
we can see the whole nest very clearly and then the little Penduline Tit in the middle... the nest frames the bird really effectively.
Razor-sharp with great detail.
Superb light and exposure.
A superb image!
Well done,

Joe

Bonita y entrañable Ivan. No suelen publicarse fotografías de los nidos de las aves y menos de estos tan curiosos y bellos. Supongo que dificultad para la captura. Creo que es un buen documento.
Un abrazo: Josep Ignasi.

Hi Argus, nice composition with lovely bird in its nest, good colors and splendid sharpness, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hej Ivan
This guy is really high on my list to photograph here in Sweden and you did it :) So my congratulation! Well composed one with nice details and pose. It is always pleasure to read your note.
TFS / Hälsningar
Ralf

Dy har lyckats en gång till att överaska med en fin bild :) Jag har bokat sommar resan nu till en del länder i Asien (Maylasia, Cambodia, Borneo, Java & Bali) En månad i fågelparadiset :) Jag vet att det finns massor med insekter och allt annat som jag kanske kommer att fota om jag hinner. Vet du något spec ställe som du kan rekommendera?

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 981 W: 17 N: 2563] (9450)
  • [2008-05-08 5:44]

Hi Ivan,
It amazes me how these little birds have the knowledge to build such structures...i guess thats evoltuion for you!
Anyway, a great shot from the best POV you could get, clearly showing him at work. Excellent detail and DOF, well done!
Paul

Hola Ivan, has captado una momento especial y con valor como documento. el enfoque justo en el pajarillo y con muy buena luz. Un saludo

Dear Ivan
Very intersting scene you captured,
Perfect exposure,details and POV.Welldone my friend.

Regards
Fartash

  • Great 
  • Mana Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1687 W: 20 N: 4738] (15476)
  • [2008-05-08 13:57]

Hi Ivan,
Splendid shot of this cute little Tit enjoying the comfort of its sweet home. Very interesting structure and quite a curious hanging one too. Very neat and sharp image with clear details. I like the leafy surrounding and the grand pose. Excellent POV and composition. Kudos.
TFS.
Sumon

Hello Ivan,
In last year and last week, I took many shot of Remiz pendulus, when it feeding, collecting nest material and on nest. but my target to take it when it contrictes its nests as like your post. Another differeence, nests of mine always on willow (Salix) tree, this is on poplar or birch tree.
Your post really very beautiful. Everything very nice, especially large eyes and black band. Workshop and information also very nice. Thanks for all of them. best wishes friend
Ahmet

hello Ivan

i missed this wonderful image of the Penduline Tit,
excellent shot with fine POV and DOF, i love the vertical
framing you gived, that little catch-light at the eye
it change alot the image in improving it,
excellent sharpness and details, TFS

Asbed

Hi Ivan,
I have missed time for TN recently and I realized that I have missed many of your last posts. This one attired my attention as I find those birds so amazing! Look at the way they built their nest; it is incredible! This is a very sharp capture and I’m amazed that you could capture such a nice catch-light in its eye without use of flash! I like to see those nest’s details; it seems so soft and comfortable! Your notes are also very interesting as usual. I wish we have those birds here as well and what a nice name they have! This is a wonderful picture. Thanks a lot,
Claudine

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