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.
I found this Giant House Spider in my garage this morning. After a few shots it ran away ... so did I ... . It was ginormous !!
A nice crossing with a stag in the Peaks woodland this morning.
Shiver, shiver!! Likely I would have left the County!
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Good photo BD, I would have had Camera Shake
A trip out to Burton mere wetlands yesterday, mainly for some much needed exercise walking round the reserve. A lot of visitors there in the chance of seeing one of two bitterns that had been seen recently including early that morning, alas, most people were unlucky including us. I didn't take many photos but this drake shoveler was looking too resplendent in his magnificent breeding plumage not to grab a quick pic when it was on the large pond near visitor centre.
a cute lollipop ......
which turned into a "flying teaspoon" another nickname for them - although this looks more like a butterfly as it took off lol
and sorry the only chance to snap a Cettis Warbler but enough to ID it. ! .........
and three "Cyril's" roaming under the feeders near the visitor centre picking up any fallen seeds ...
_____________________________________
Regards, Hazel
I'm missing Burton Mere, and Conwy, massively.
Shovelers, shelducks, and of course, mallards, with the iridescent plumage look fabulous when the sun catches them just right.
As for flying teaspoon, I just love that definition.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.