This photograph of a fieldfare in the garden is not the best bird photograph I've taken. It doesn't show all of the features of the species, the background is fussy, the light doesn't model it well - I could go on. However, it pleases me because it says something about this winter visitor to our islands that a technically better shot might not. There was thick snow on the ground, hence the lighting of the lower body, the temperature was -3 Celsius, the birds feathers are fluffed to conserve heat, and it surveys the surroundings for food. It is only in extreme weather that I ever see fieldfares in the garden and my close views of the bird often mirror this photograph.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Nikon P900
