Common Teal in Flight at Warnham Local Nature Reserve

On the morning of 21st December 2025, I spent some time at Warnham Local Nature Reserve hoping to finally photograph the Common Teal properly. I’ve been trying to capture them for weeks, but they always seem to stay on the far side of the lake in front of the reeds — just out of comfortable range.

This visit was no different to begin with. The teal were still keeping their distance, tucked along the reed line where autofocus can easily get confused. Photographing birds at that range presents its own challenges. The reeds constantly interfere with focus tracking, and even with a long lens, the subjects can appear small in the frame.

Finally Getting the Shot

Eventually, the moment came. The Common Teal lifted off the water, giving me a brief opportunity to capture them in flight. It all happened quickly, and with the reeds in the foreground, autofocus wasn’t straightforward. I had to work with what I could get.

Because of the distance, I needed to apply a significant crop during processing. Normally, I prefer to minimise cropping where possible, but in situations like this it becomes part of the workflow. Despite the heavy crop, I’m really pleased with how the images turned out. The wing detail held up well, and the movement across the frame gives a real sense of energy.

Persistence Pays Off

These are the types of moments that make repeated visits worthwhile. The teal had been present for weeks, but never quite in the right position. This time, patience paid off.

Warnham continues to be a fantastic place for wildlife photography, especially during the winter months when species like Common Teal are more regularly present. You don’t always get the shot straight away — sometimes it takes multiple visits and a bit of persistence.

But when it finally comes together, it makes it all the more rewarding.