This rather damp long-tailed tit sat patiently on a branch beneath over-hanging foliage, waiting for the rain to blow over. It was a difficult shot to take: rainy, gloomy early morning light, and in the shadow of trees. Can’t ask for worse photography conditions really! So the result is a little grainy due to a high ISO, but I think the photo captures a little bit of defiance in the face of the elements. This less familiar frontal view, without being able to see the characteristic long tail, makes the bird look even more mouse-like than usual.
An interesting fact about long-tailed tits is that if they fail to raise chicks in a particular season, they will often help to feed the chicks of their relatives. It all makes sense biologically in terms of helping the family DNA to survive and prosper.
The birds and the trees 