Just Visiting

This afternoon a Female Sparrowhawk was seen in out front hedge. Upon closer inspection it had a damaged wing, obviously not in the best shape of her life as however hard she tried she couldn't fly, only a few flaps and hops. Still, as the small assembled group tried to contain her before the RSPCA arrived to take her to the vets, I took the opportunity to get some closeup shots of our most common bird of prey and probably my favourite...

Like a falconer's bird, but better!

Common Fayre

 Because of a break in the festive weather, I decided that I was best to take advantage of the bright orb burning in the sky that I dimly rembered was the sun. I phoned a friend in West Manchester who has a private hide. This is part of an old Lancastrian Moss. Since it started life as a peat bog it has become farmland, meaning farmland birds. My friend is an excellent photographer, and he knows exactly what makes a photo special. He uses some teasels as perches...

but the highlight birdwise for me without a doubt are the Tree Sparrows...

but Blue Tits are just so photogenic in the low winter's sun...





This little lady disturbed things somewhat, by hunting my subjects, in the process becoming one herself...

A lovely day out with my new Canon 50D, an impressive beast that Santa very kindly brought!