Pristine ......

These little birds don't seem to have a care in the world as they go about their business, seemingly oblivious to what is going on around them.

And very confiding they are, allowing you to approach quite close to them. 

Long Tailed Tits certainly brighten up the day as their family groups flit through the woodland fringes and scrub making their high pitched contact calls.

Sadly, hard winters have a severe effect on their numbers, happily they seem to be able to recover their numbers quickly.

Long Tailed Tit in my back garden.

A few days ago I pressed some fat balls into the top of this old fencing post in my back garden and it didn't take these little charmers long to find it.

It all helps.

stunning light ..........

There is in my opinion no such thing as perfection and I am the first to admit that the composition of this image and pose of this Long Tailed Tit leave a lot to be desired ..... it just would not turn its head around to face the camera, and then it was gone.

But the intensity and angle of the light on the birds breast and under its tail I really like a lot.

I also like the overall focus from the birds head to the tip of its tail.

Long Tailed Tits really are superb subjects, generally very tolerant of humans and they offer a palette of colours no matter what angle you shoot from.

This years crop of Long Tailed Tits.

I went for a wander for a couple of hours this afternoon, very hot with thankfully a strong cooling wind.  The hides were like Sauna baths !.

I saw plenty of parties of Long Tailed Tits with their young, juvenile plumage lacks the pinky tinges of the adults and they have smoky grey heads. 

The other feature of the juveniles is that their eye-rings are red rather than yellow as is the case with adult birds.

Who do eye belong to ?

To come across a roving flock of these little birds is an absolute delight as they travel about in extended family groups flitting from tree to tree foraging for their preferred food which mainly comprises of invertebrates and seeds. 

Sociable, energetic and acrobatic sums this species up. 14cm long of which the tail accounts for 9cm they are unmistakable both in flight and during their very brief periods of rest.

In winter the size of the family parties may swell as unrelated '' helpers '' join the troupe which roosts and huddles together to retain body heat.

Final clue, whereas the adult has a yellow eye ring that of the juvenile is red.

It is of course the Long Tailed Tit !.