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 few from the last few days and one from 2 years ago.
Is it a Willow Warbler ... I need to know if I have got a first ... ... or not ...
Chaffinch - like most Burnley birds, fat with a big mouth ...
Nutty - I wonder if he knows them ?
Woodpecker - female I think, way up in the treetops
Little Wren looking for rain
Bit of macro - Carpet Beetle
Two Bluebells - I love the pastel shades
And finally as mentioned earlier and in the previous post by Mr Kes. I think this is a moulted Mandarin Duck, taken a coule of years back, on the river Calder, in Padiham near Burnley.
Lovely set of photos not sure about the Warbler, sorry
Thanks Kevin ...
Merlin says Common Chiffchaff BD Nice selection, I like your macro
Thanks Snappy. You can't win em all ... . One or two would be a start ... .
I tried 3 times with Merlin. One said Common Chiffchaff, one said Willow Warbler and one said Black Redstart that looks nothing like it ...
Google Lens suggests Willow Warbler first, then Chiffchaff... so who knows....certainly not me lol
Thanks for trying PB. I thought the legs colour pointed towards Willow Warbler, but people on here know much more than me. I'm just a learner ...
Ohh... me too.... and I'm not convinced leg colour is diagnostic, I think Wendy was right about wing length, and certain feathers length in relation to others... its all greek to me!
Wonderful set of photos BD. Particularly like the bluebells, very nice capture and also the macro. I presume you were using a macro lens for that. On the Warbler, hard to tell but nice colouring and seems slightly different to the Chiffchaff colours. could well be a different warbler. Either way its a great shot. Also interesting to see the mandarin duck without the head feathers. Looks different.
Thanks Mr Kes. Yes I did use a macro lens for the Carpet Beetle. I use the Canon EF100mm f/2.8L. I've always found it to be a great lens and not ridiculously expensive. As for the Warbler, as you say, it does look a bit different, but I am pleased with the photo. The Mandarin Duck looks like it has a tee shirt on ...