Martyn Pitt

Remember that Tawny Owl chick from the other week, here is another shot of it from Sunday, poor thing got a bit wet in the rain Also caught this Tern having a go at a Hobby

It's not like you have anything else to do

We get them in the back garden Steve ... they love the ants

A couple of Swifts ... wonder how they got their name

A House Martin from this morning

I like dragonflies, they haven't changed much from their prehistoric ancestors, except they had 1.00m wingspans ... imagine watching one of those whizzing about

Had some fun today chasing Swallows, Swifts and Martins in flight, not the best idea on a dull day but hey ho Here is a Swallow flying low to avoid radar

21st Century - Coming right back / Shadow of a memory - DOT

Larry Williams - You ask for one good reason / I'm the one - Okeh

It always looks good when you get the sun shining through their wings like that, gives them an angelic appearance

Now for a fluffy cuddly one ... a Tawny Owl chick ... awwwww Not as good at hiding as Mum and Dad are

Out enjoying the sunshine at Belvide ... only problem was the heat haze (can make a photo look like it was taken through a bathroom window) Another shot of a Sedge Warbler displaying for a mate ... these little birds fly all the way from Africa to the UK to mate, the youngsters then fly all the way back to Africa in September, and generally return to the UK the following Spring to the place they were born. All without a map or a satnav ... amazing Also managed to catch a Grey Heron in flight, much easier than the little warblers ...

I managed to get a couple of shots of a Sedge Warbler displaying, seeking out a mate ... tricky as they are a bit erratic in their flight, and not in the air very long.

They were taken at the usual place Steve. I think Terns are great to watch, diving head first into the water from about 20 feet.

Gadwall fighting over a lady .... vicious buggers

We should be there

I also happened upon a couple of Red Legged Partridge, the one posed nicely for me

Here is an image showing why Tawny Owls are so tricky to find A crop of that shot

Steve There was an old adage when I started photography to help with exposure issues ... "add light to white" ... if you are photographing a white subject adjust the exposure compensation by +1 to +2 stops. (The opposite for a black subject) The camera meter always assumes that it is looking at 18% grey, this is why the majority of peoples shots taken in the snow look grey, the white has fooled the meter so the image is underexposed. Usually +1 will be enough, just take a test shot and check the image on the screen.

Sparrowhawks are ace ... here is one from a few years back, it only landed for a split second

There are records that will empty a dance floor, always have been, ... that is the first one I have heard that would empty the whole venue. The lass off youtube would struggle to engineer a dance to that one.

Mike, the UK gets Chaffinch (amongst other common birds) migrate from Scandinavia and Northern Europe to over winter here, as it was a relatively mild and gentle winter there, I expect the numbers were lower than when there is a severe winter. You will also find our Chaffinch migrate south to France and Spain, so you may see a few returning over the next few weeks.

I am just jealous Steve ...

Black Wings Have My Angel ..... we need more Coots

Oi smiffy ... get a job Duck .... The last one is quite scarce as far inland as Belvide,it's an American Long Tailed Duck, it has been with us 120 days now ... be charging it rent soon