I photographed this beautiful varied tit yesterday at Changfeng Park in Shanghai, hundreds of kilometers south of where Poecile varius is "supposed" to be wintering. This year a huge irruption is occurring; varied tits are moving down the Chinese coast; before this year, there were few or no records of the varied tit in the Shanghai region. The opportunity captured here arose suddenly. The varied tit, half-tame from living in the crowded urban park, leaped onto a branch just 5 m from me. I was barely within my minimum focal distance. Much of the bird is out of focus, because F/6.3 isn't a narrow enough aperture at 5 m with a 600 mm lens; but the head is sharp, and the open mouth is dramatic, and the natural green BG is simple and clean.
Device: Nikon D3S
Lens: VR 600mm F/4G
Focal Length: 600 mm
Aperture: F/6.3
Shutter Speed: 1/400
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
Exposure Comp.: None
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 4000
Metering Mode: Center-Weight
Subject Distance: 5 m
Vibration Reduction: Not used.
Photoshoppery: Heavy noise reduction on the BG, some NR on the stick, and very little NR on the bird.
Craig:
Simple and sweet image of beautiful looking bird.Love the pose with open beak or is it calling?,colors and sharpness where it is needed.
Very nice diagonal perch and composition. TFS.
Super capture, Craig. Head, chest and shoulder is sharp with super details and colors. Love his pose slanted downward and his open beak. Nice clean BG. What's not to like.
Varied Tit, Shanghai
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