Catching Some Rays

Catching Some Rays, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

One of the benifits of all the rain we have had this week is that mushrooms are springing up everywhere. I always like finding these little chaps and if you can find them in a patch of sunlight, all the better.

Bright Gold

Bright Gold, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Changeable, I think, describes todays weather best. One minute we had bright sunshine, the next , black clouds and hardly any light at all.
Plenty of little birds around though, including dozens of Goldfinches.

Hang On

Hang On, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Great Tits, Robins, Blue Tits, Goldfinches and a few Dunnocks were all trying to get into this shot, and they were making plenty of noise.
My camera has started to make a very strange noise too,which is a little worrying. I don't know whether it is effecting my shots so I can't use that excuse yet.
But lets just not mention the short but wonderful view of the Peregrine that I couldn't photograph because I had forgotten to take the lens cap off!

Twiggy

Twiggy, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

One of my favourite birds, the Long-Tailed Tit is ridiculously cute. There was a gang of about a dozen of these tumbling through the hedges. At one point they were so close, I couldn't use my camera because I only had the big lens.
Dark mornings and darker evenings mean that my wandering time is more limited than ever, making times like this even more special.

Wild At Heart

Wild At Heart, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Always a favourite and always seemingly willing to pose, the Robin brightens up whatever he is sat on.

Dartford View

Dartford View, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

I see a few of these at the moment, more this year than last, I think. But the Dartford Warbler is still a bird that I struggle with. This one sat still long enough for just one shot and then disappeared in the Gorse. Once I lowered the camera, of course, he popped his smug little head up again.

Sika

Sika, originally uploaded by julian sawyer.

Well, we have had Sika for about six months now and she is doing pretty well. When we first found her, she couldn't run very well and had trouble controlling her long legs.
Now, she is as mad as cheese and incredibly fast, which always makes for interesting walks.