I love birds, always have and always will. Here's a slightly random assortment of photos from over the years!
The sun had climbed beyond the horizon and golden light pooled where shadows didn’t cast. Atop the slumped silence rustled warblers, flickering amongst reeds. It seemed that nothing could disrupt the peace.
However, peace in nature is a short lived phenomenon.
A shadow crept over the reeds, fingered wingtips tiptoeing over the marsh. From the silence erupted wingbeats and alarm calls, mayhem ensued as wildfowl fled in every direction while sedge warblers dropped deep into the crevices at the feet of reeds.
This time, the Marsh harrier was unsuccessful. It’s fishhook talons, unable to hit their mark. This harrier was hunting on the Isles of Scilly, miles at sea and away from home. It’s lethargic predatory attempt was followed by several heavy beats of its battered wings, and it forlornly floated into the distance.
This time, the Marsh harrier was unsuccessful. It’s fishhook talons, unable to hit their mark. This harrier was hunting on the Isles of Scilly, miles at sea and away from home. It’s lethargic predatory attempt was followed by several heavy beats of its battered wings, and it forlornly floated into the distance.
When anywhere in Europe above 1000-metres, one of the first things anyone should do is put raisins out on the windowsills. Not before long, the tuneful chirps of alpine choughs will start to trickle in from surrounding rooftops, followed by the scratching of claws competing for food. They're characterful and curious, always a pleasure to observe.
I'm not used to jays letting me get close to them; being corvids they're smart enough to keep a reasonable distance from strangers.
However, this one was so absorbed with foraging that it didn't mind me following while it pecked around for insects in a very weepy willow tree. I couldn't quite see it find anything but it was engrossed nonetheless!
Swifts are awesome; whipping along effortlessly and endlessly, reeling in the sky. The things that make them so impressive also makes them incredibly difficult to photograph, but I still had a lot of fun trying!
