Reed Warbling

A Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) sings to attract a mate at Cley Next the Sea, Norfolk. Usually it sings from within the reedbed rather than from a perch, so it is often heard rather than seen. I heard this particular bird singing from the same patch of reeds for several days in a row but only managed to see fleeting views of it as it hopped from reed to reed. Although I wanted to show the bird singing in its natural habitat I also needed to achieve a clear image where the reeds where not obscuring the bird. On my final visit the wind was incredibly light and although the sun was bright it was diffused by some light cloud. The stillness of the reeds and the bright weather encouraged the bird to climb to a higher vantage point enabling me to capture the shot free from distracting reeds and ugly shadows.