Kicking off this year's odds and sods with Starlings in a rainbow on that extreme rarity: sunshine.
It was early morning, with the sun barely cresting the tree line. We were able to get out for our morning walk as it wasn't raining. This photo is my trusty Canon 80D and Sigma 18-300mm lens zoomed in at 300mm.
Pulling back a bit.
And finally all the way back.
Oh, 2024 got off to a good start with this.
So far my cat, perhaps two neighbouring cats visiting our garden, a local fox and Tawny owl, and this trap have accounted for at least five of the beasties. Sightings of rats in our garden are getting rarer, so I think I'm winning. Two rather timid and wary rats, that I know of, are proving more elusive to catch. I've resorted to buying a lethal trap. The trap was triggered, yesterday, but no rat, sadly. Though a mouse might have triggered it, and was small enough to be within the kill bar.
90% luck, 5% field craft, 5% camera skills.
Great captures of a lovely Fox!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Excellent Bob. I really like the last one. Super focused on something ...
Thanks Wendy
Two special surprises today.
I think this is Great Tit. Has managed to bring in vast amounts of leaves and build a nest on top of an old hedge trimmer in one our sheds.
blackbird has made an incredible nest on a stood up log in an open barn inside a plywood crate.
Lucky you. I think Blue tits are nesting in one of my boxes, I have seen one, or maybe two, flying in and out a few times with nesting material ...
A Sparrowhawk took out a Wood pigeon at my bird feeder. Unfortunately, I didn't witness this, only the aftermath. However, our local Starlings took full advantage to get some fresh material for their nests.
Some decided to try out feathers as headwear.
Though the idea was to stuff as many feathers into their beaks as they could, but without hands, they kept dropping some as they opened their beaks to grab others.
Feathers did prove rather itchy
Hello! Who's that?
The bird did look a little gormless.
Photographed with my R7, on a dull morning, through a very filthy windo.
Well spotted, great photo's Angus
Nice one BD. I find nest building fascinating. These small birds are expert builders.
Looks like the starlings have had a pillow fight.
Joking aside, a good collection of photos Angus.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
They are trying their best, bless them
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.