A Photo-shoot in The Brecks

24th January 2023

The plan was to do a tour of The Brecks calling at Lackford Lakes, Lakenheath Fen and Lynford Arboretum. In the event Lackford Lakes was frozen solid, Lakenheath Fen was fog-bound so we settled on Lynford Arboretum. Sadly these days the arboretum is a shadow of its former glory with not a sight or sound of Crossbills, a few Hawfiches seen at roost in the paddocks and just a handful of Siskins spread over a wide area. The lake was frozen over apart from about 10 sq yards of open water which was  home to a Mute Swan, 10 Mallard and a single Little Grebe which seemed to be catching several fish.

So as it was quiet we decided to set up a photographic set near some feeders in the adjacent scrub. The feeders were attracting birds but a bit distant and in very poor light which made photography difficult, so the plan was to set up another feeding station nearby in good light and to introduce some props to try and avoid photographing the birds feeding on the seed. The props included a few branches and one branch in particular with an off-shoot at a rather jaunty angle.

The problem is that some species have no fear and go straight on to the seed without a more cautious approach via the branches. The first bird to arrive within a few seconds was the local Robin and was soon tucking into the seed.

The second bird to fly straight onto the seed was a Coal Tit, followed by an equally daring Nuthatch.

Then came the more cautious amongst them, starting with a Blue Tit and then a Great Tit, which assessed the safety of the situation from the branches. This gave some much better opportinities for some shots.

The Coal Tit had obviously been watching proceedings and now came to the seed via the jaunty twig giving a much more natural setting. The twig was in good light and the blurred out woodland in the background gave a nice dark back-cloth.

Then came the Marsh Tits, probably one of the commonest birds at Lynford. They came to the twig quite readily and provided some very natural and in some instances some quite quirky poses. Have photographic studio will travel.

I just love it when a plan comes together!!!