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.
These are amazing. It shows that often, you don’t need to go too far to take great photos
Beautiful selection of photos BD and love the one of faithful friend Billy - butter wouldn't melt lQQk !!
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Regards, Hazel
Thanks CL. Billy will try every look in the book to get the biscuit that was concealed in my hand ...
Thanks Scozmos. I enjoy doing a bit of macro .... holding my breath while I focus, till I almost pass out ...
Thanks Snappy. My Acer has had a good season really, it has been bright red for months until the last week or so when the leaves started to drop off, and those strong winds over the weekend finished it off. Might be a different flavour to yours. Mine in an Acer Palmatum Atropurpureum. I bought it as a sapling online about 15 years ago, it is now about 5ft high and about 5ft across.
Thanks Kevin. As you say you don't need to go far. I live on a corner with 3 largish gardens, so I can spend many a happy hour crawling around looking for things to photograph. I always find something of interest ...
Thanks Hazy. Yes Billy certainly knows how to charm a biscuit out of any unsuspecting visitor. My mate says, 'don't look into his eyes'. He loves being out in the garden with me. Just being involved in whatever is going on ...
Kevin Brooke said: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
Superb shots Kevin.
As we all know, nature doesn't parade on command, but when it appears, it's always good to see and hear.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Billysdad said:And my faithful helper. Never happier than when he is filthy ...
Aww, brilliant collection BD, and what do you expect with a happy dog?
An even happier muddy dog, that just loves to share the water with its owner by a big shake....
Oh, and that lovely wet dog smell in the car going back home....
Wait for the aromatic version, after finding horse manure....
Mike B said:Oh, and that lovely wet dog smell in the car going back home.... Wait for the aromatic version, after finding horse manure.
Wait for the aromatic version, after finding horse manure.