My first photographic outing of 2026 began in the company of fellow members of the CPA Photography Club. We gathered at Oxford Island, drawn by the promise of winter wildlife and the quiet rhythm of the place at this time of year. Although the weather was cold and showery, there were moments when beautiful, low winter light broke through the clouds, catching the frost and snow and transforming the scene into something almost luminous.

The cold was sharp and persistent, numbing fingers and making every camera adjustment feel deliberate. Snow lay in patches along the woodland paths, and our breath hung in the air as we waited, still and patient. To improve our chances, we baited a few carefully chosen areas with seed, creating natural-looking perches nearby and then stepping back to let the birds settle. It was a slow process, made slower by the cold.

Soon the woodland came alive with movement. Blue tits, great tits, and coal tits tits flitted constantly through the branches, while robins posed briefly before darting off again. Chaffinches and other finches appeared in quick bursts of activity, rarely still for long. To cope with the low light and fast-moving subjects, I found myself pushing the ISO higher than usual, accepting a little grain in exchange for sharp moments and captured behaviour. Despite the cold, it was a rewarding and memorable way to begin 2026, marked by good company, beautiful light, and the simple pleasure of photographing birds in winter.