Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Peregrine Displays

 Some documentary shots of the courtship display of the Peregrine pair that have returned St Albans. The female has a rather tatty tail but it didn't seem to affect her manoeuvrability. Hopefully someone in our Nature Group with more pixels than my camera has some better shots.


Monday, March 18, 2024

Nuthatch Building Nest

The Europaean Nuthatch Sitta europaea, generally nests in holes on trees and reinforces just the entrance with mud. This pair were building a nest in the crevice in a wall, reminiscent of the Eastern Europaean Rock Nuthatch (Sitta neumayer) showing that the species have not diverged that far in nest-building habits. We watched it (?them) bring in mud and build a complete entrance to the nest area. Sometimes it disappeared into the nest as here and then elegantly hopped out and off for more materials. A wonderful harmonious setting for such an  elegant bird.

Sunday, March 17, 2024

St Albans Herons

I have visited St Albans most years from 2012 to watch the Herons and friends busy courting, mating and building nests around the second week in March. After a very sparse year in 2023, this year is encouraging as we located 5 nests and maybe a couple of unpaired youngsters. The early light with low sunshine was ideal but it clouded over later so a different approach in processing at the end. My favourite is the second image - sheer 'Joie de Vivre' which is how they made me feel. The grumpy one giving the evil eye to the Coot is probably more representative of their behaviour.

Saturday, March 16, 2024

'Painted' Portraits

An evening at Toft Photogroup playing around with a slide projector, some old slides and a couple of willing models, commencing with  'Van Gogh' portrait

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Insect Activity in Cambridgeshire

Although overcast and breezy, lots of insects active today including a new Sawfly, an Andrena minutula bee, a cream-coloured Ladybird, and two new plant bugs in addition the brown and green forms of Palomena prasina.

Ann Miles Photography - My Favourite Images of the Past10 years or so