Some Homework...

Starling

I've been feeling a bit flat since coming back from Pembrokeshire and so I decided to just get out into the garden and see what I could capture. I had mentioned earlier that I was thinking about using this as the subject for my ARPS submission. Again I wasn't disappointed. At the moment the garden is full of this years young. They really are engaging to watch but there is a sombre side to this. I know that most will not will see the end of the week let alone the end of the year. The area is inundated with cats - the most prolific predator of young birds. There is also a sparrowhawk that visits the area on a regular basis. On top of this they have to learn to fend for themselves. The odds are not good but some of the brood will survive and seeing as their parents will be having two maybe three broods in a season the attrition is not too serous. If you wish to view all the birds then click here:

More tails from the river bank...

Not sure how long this has been in the river!

Went on my warbler hunt this morning - still no signs.  However, there are signs that winter is now a distant memory and that summer is on the way.  I saw my first Swallow this morning.   I always find that this is a real tonic for two reasons.    First, it is the continuing example of how powerful nature is.  Here is a small bird that has flown all the way from Africa in just a few short days.   Second, it means that the opportunity for great bird photography is increasing - it is now just over six weeks before my first bird expedition of the year to Pembrokeshire - can't wait to be reacquainted  with the puffins.

Whilst I enjoyed my walk along the river bank - the best bird I saw today was a kingfisher, as usual all you see is a iridescent flash of blue.  I spent most of the time rummaging around the scrub trying to make photographs of the ordinary.   The patterns of bark, the new growth on brambles and the like.   Whilst going through the hedge bottom I found more signs that the local sparrowhawk has been busy.  There were 3 separate sights where the hawk had plucked an unfortunate woodpigeon.  Anyway, I was trying out different techniques to capture the first signs of spring growth.  Not sure how well this has worked but you have to try.

As I write this it is a lovely sunny evening, the skies are clear and the sun is starting produce the wonderful evening light loved by landscape photographers the world over - myself included.   However, it does prove one thing.   That when I wish for some form of weather the exact opposite happens.  In truth I am not complaining.