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.
Super photos and lucky you to see them.
Whitethroat again,
HAZY said:was often hard to see them in the long meadow grass. !!
Nice to see the cattle egret living up to its name, and nice photos too.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
HAZY said:At first I couldn't work out why three adult looking Moorhens were feeding a single chick ........ but then it dawned on me that earlier siblings help feed the young of subsequent broods !! Mum and Dad are above, courtship bonding and the older juvenile is feeding its sibling.
Fabulous photos Hazy, and nice to see you're settling down with the R5.
After seeing Chris Packham's Springwatch 2023 report back on foxes sharing family duties of feeding the youngsters, I've seen possible similar events with many other species, not just mammals but also birds, including waterfowl.
There is so much we have yet to learn about nature.
A few from this morning. Not the best photos of the kite but I've only seen one once before so I was happy. I've also got lots to learn about taking photos of birds in flight
Nothing wrong with those photos Bob, lovely captures of the various birds and love the close up of the kestrel
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Regards, Hazel
Stunning shot of the Robin!! I agree with Hazel, there is nothing wrong with those Kite shots. The kestrel is fantastic.
Good photo's Bob . A nice background behind the Robin.
Would this be a Mistle Thrush, it seemed quite a big bird ?
Yes, I would say it is a Mistle Thrush ...