Another local walk

 24.03.24 An afternoon slow short stroll up to the whinny bushes to see if I could get my first images this year of Chiffchaff and I did indeed. They seemed to be in every tree and bush I passed calling and singing their heads off.  There were also dozens of Gorse Shieldbugs which was a bonus however they were the only Shieldbugs I found which was a bit of a disappointment.

Chiffchaff with an insect in its beak.

Which it dropped so it can’t have been that tasty.

Chiffchaff and Shieldbug.

Willow Tit.

Long-tailed Tit.

I know it’s not sharp (it was a long distant grab shot) but I like the way it’s trying to catch flies.

Wren.

Gorse Shieldbug.

7-spot Ladybird.

Last night’s full moon.

Sparrowhawk

 A female Sparrowhawk has, once again, found out that there are a load of Starlings in ours and the neighbours gardens and has visited a couple of times recently. These images are from the first time it came through and are taken through a double-glazed window.

But before we get to some of the relatively graphic stuff there are some other images taken in or from the garden first.

The full moon the other night.

Episyrphus balteatus commonly known as the Marmalade Hoverfly resting on a leaf.

This one was hovering in a patch of sun. There was a least six doing this all protecting their own territory.

Female Sparrowhawk with a young Starling.

Looking death in the eye.

Two Owls

 Little Owl and Barn Owl. It was getting quite dark when I took these pictures so I had to use a high ISO (as you can see). It was also a full moon that night so I took some pictures of that as well.

My first…

 …Brown Hare of the year from another short local walk. It might have been short and local but I think I have walked too much because my knees are feeling it now so if I do go out with the camera in the next few days it will be from a hide.

I moved very slowly to my left to see if I could get a picture of this Brown Hare without the twig in front of it however as soon as I did it was off.

I liked the way the late afternoon sun was lighting up this Common Gull.

Another Common Gull. I don’t think I have seen many around my local area.

Herring Gull taking off.

I liked how small this Wren looked sitting on the fence post.

A rubbish shot of a Fieldfare lit by the setting sun.

The Moon at 4.06pm.