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.
From our walk a couple of days ago, with temps hovering around -9C. Return leg of our walk, spotted this jay swooping up from field to side of path, before landing on fence.
I started off with some long range shots.
Jay decides to bury acorn. No chance with the ground so frozen.
All photos now cropped, as I had my Canon 80D with Sigma 18-300mm lens.
Jay buries acorn in pile of leaves by side of path.
Is it buried?
Hmmmm, it looks buried from this angle.
The Jay spent a couple of minutes examining its hoard, it even got some leaves to place on top of the acorn.
It would examine the buried nut from all sorts of angles, rearranging leaves. I was so preoccupied with its work, it allowed me to creep ever closer.
Finally satisfied, the thing took one last look at me before flying off. As you can see from the photo, I managed to get quite close to the beastie.
Well captured Angus. Looks like the Jay was too busy to bother about you creeping up. Always like to see Jays, so bright & colourful ...
Two recent favourites
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Two favourites to be very pleased with, particularly the goldcrest, and with no twigs or branches in the way.
Well done.
Mike
Flickr: Peak Rambler
Two great photos Mr Kes! I particularly like the Goldcrest ... and it's even better without the usual twigs, as Mike says ...