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.
Wow, folks, what an overwhelming response to my Wren photos. Thank you.
Always tricky to photograph. The sneaky things know when I am about to photograph them, and so disappear into the undergrowth.
LRPs are back on the Manor Farm portion on the soon to be opened Longwater Road nature reserve. Well, we hope. Cemex have continually pushed back completion for over 20 years. All they really need to do is install a couple of sluice gates (which they have) and fencing along bridle paths; which they haven't, so endangering ground nesting birds.
I tried to photograph a couple of Skylarks, trilling in the sky. Tad tricky, in the early morning (7:15) sunlight. Having got one in frame, it decided to dive just as I pressed shutter release.
My notoriously bad bird recognition skills mean a guess at this flight of ducks flying over what was the mighty Finch pond. I think they are Gadwalls.
My R7 did well in the low, early morning light. Though I think I'll have to give the front lens of my Sigma 150-600mm C a clean.
A bit of a random selection from the weekend.
Your capture of the Heron on the 'Private Fishing' sign was hilarious Bob ... maybe he's a fully paid up member?
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
He's possibly keeping an eye out for the bailiffs
Nice catch. Lovely early morning light
The heron shot is excellent!
Some recent shots.
That Heron was a nice catch Bob, good selection of photo's.
The Long-tailed Tit looks busy Mr Kes. Is that 3rd one down a Willow Warbler ?