Whilst photographing the squirrels in a local park last weekend, I couldn't help but notice this little guy waiting in the wings for anything that wasn't immediately snapped-up. It is, of course, a Jay: a colourful member of the crow family, and mainly found in woodland. A shy bird, it rarely breaks cover, but now that the leaves have gone from most trees it is easier to see.
At this time of year - with food harder to find and hunger playing its part - the Jay waited for its opportunity of a free meal on a nearby branch, as near to the action as it dared. Whilst in the process of luring the local squirrel populace into range for my lens, I would occasionally throw a peanut specifically for the bird, well away from the melee of rodents in front of me. When it felt sure of scoring a successful strike the Jay would swoop with precision to the woodland floor; take its prize and be away again almost in one movement. To get the image below I had to prefocus and attempt to land a nut on my chosen spot, firing the shutter immediately once the bird landed.
300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor. Tripod
Top: 1/640 second at f/4. + 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400
Bottom: 1/640 second at f/4. ISO 400
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