Singing Blackbird

I wanted more reach. I picked up my new Canon RF 200-800 lens, which has been on order for a while, this morning. One of the first images that I took was this male blackbird near the top of a tall ash tree. He has been delighting me with his song for a long time. I was upset to learn this week that blackbirds are being affected by Usutu, a deadly virus carried by mosquitoes. It originated in South Africa, spread to Europe and was found in London in 2020.

The new lens isn't heavy but it's massive. It's annoying that the tripod collar can't be removed. There is no focus limiter. I intend to use it hand-held for birds in flight and aircraft. It's not an L lens, isn't a patch on my RF 100-500mm L and doesn't seem very sharp but I'll enjoy trying/learning how to get the best out of it.