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.
A couple of photos from this morning, taken at Leighton Moss RSPB; 3 cattle egret but you had to get there at 7.30am before they flew off from their roost seen from Causeway hide.
Bit of a quick pic as they suddenly took off heading towards the salt marsh
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Regards, Hazel
Some days, nothing seems to be happening. I think we all must have had them, when you convince yourself that you’ll go home with a photo of a nice tree or maybe even a cloud ️ nothing wrong with either of them, of course, but then nature smiles at you and a Robin belts out a tune, a wren stays still for just long enough and then you hear the twinkle of a flock of Lollipops. As Thomas Tuchel might say ‘Es Koennte schlimmer sein’
Great shots Kevin. I am getting those days at the moment you speak of - carrying my gear and seeing *** all ... . Not even a nice tree or cloud!
Thank you I suppose that most of it is luck isn’t it? Oh well, the occasional good day makes it even more worthwhile
Well you know where they all are at this time of year
Lovely shots Kevin
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Thank you they are usually where I am not. I suspect that most of them are in your lovely garden
Just a few odds and ends from over the weekend. Had a walk out and saw nothing again, so I took a few shots around the garden, with a couple of macro chucked in ...
Last men standing - These were the last two leaves on my Acer tree ... they're gone now after the strong winds. So was Tweeties Diner this morning, it had blown over into the bushes!
Up and over ... A Black Slip Wasp paid a visit
Marmalade Hoverfly on a Petunia ... Still a few left ...
Tea for two - Two Hovers sharing a Poppy
And a close up
And my faithful helper. Never happier than when he is filthy ...
Like the pollen covered bee. What a quizical look on Billy's face! Am I a good boy, or what?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Really nice macros BD
Great macro's BD, Our acer has yet to go red, seems to get later every year... Is Billy thinking hurry up