Small Birds

Taking pictures of small birds is no job for the impatient camerman! They are most of the time very active and they will almost always hide behind a small leaf or are too far away to properly spot them. And once you think you have a good camera angle, you have to react quickly with your zoom and autofocus, because they are flown before you know it. Therefore it is with some pride, that I can show some results. 

Long-tailed Tit MAE ©2013

The Long-tailed Tits that I have seen so far, fly up and down from tree to tree or bush in an almost regular pattern. They can be seen in woodland, farmland hedgerows, scrubland, parkland and gardens. In winter they form flocks with other tit species. Once you have seen them,you will not forget the distinctive long tail and their beautiful black/white/brown colours.

They are very social birds, and will constantly call each other. They eat insects and caterpillars. In Dutch they are called: Staartmees; in Latin they are called: Aegithalos Caudatus.

Long-tailed Tit MAE ©2013

 Blue Tits MAE ©2013

The most common and well known of the tits is the Great Tit (in Dutch: Koolmees; in Latin: Parus Major). But being common, does not mean being ugly. You can see a picture further down.

These however are Blue Tits (in Dutch: Pimpelmees; in Latin: Parus Caeruleus).

They eat insects as well as nuts.

Great Tit MAE ©2013

Robin MAE ©2011

The Robin cannot be left out from this blog. They have the most beautiful songs and they are not shy at all. They will not fly away when you try to take a picture, which does help.

I have regularly seen a Robin sitting next to me when I was working in the garden. Just inspecting my hard work...

In Dutch: Roodborst. In Latin: Erithacus Rubecua.

Chaffinch MAE ©2013

And finally one other very well known bird: the Chaffinch (in Dutch: Vink; in Latin: Fringilla Coelebs).

It took me quite a while, before I could take a picture. Which is a shame, because they have beautiful colours.

They can be seen wherever there are trees.