Premier League Status
Acccording to the BBC nature presenter Chris Packham, the Reedling aka Bearded Tit is a Premier League bird and I can definitely see his point…
By now I have become quite used to having this amazing and colourful species around, they usually forage in groups at this time of year and announce their presence by the instantly recognizable “ping” call that they make as they skillfully flutter about through the extensive reedbeds.
Photographing this particular species remains a challenge as they are constantly on the move, I can even manage to get quite close but they present theirselves for a split second before disappearing into the seemingly impenetrable reed cover…
Reed Dwellers
Extensive reed reds are imperative for reedlings yet have the tendancy to obstruct even the closest views of this attractive reed dweller. Reedlings are very quick and skillful in moving about the reed beds as they expertly shuffle up and down the reeds in search of insects.
Their distinctive “ping” call enlightens me to their presence as they move through the reeds in sociable groups…sometimes they stick so close together it is as if they are all connected by an invisible thread…
Point & Shoot…
My first general impression as I got this brief glimpse was that it was probably a reed bunting…I had just arrived, this was my second picture of the day…I only managed to take one frame before it flew away…if it had stayed just a minute longer I would have taken 30-50 frames (sometimes more)…but it stayed there just long enough for me to click once…
So my evening progressed further into my current obsession to search and photograph a levitating marsh harrier…they just hang there so perfectly…but getting close enough is far from easy, I’m beginning to think that England will win the Fifa world Cup before I succeed with my goal…
Later that evening, I returned home to upload the evenings’ attempts…my mouth fell open when I realised that it was a reedling aka bearded tit and not a reed bunting at all. Basically, in that one click I had captured my first ever sighting of a reedling and I didn’t realise till several hours later…
a heartical view 