STARLING - LIFE IN A FRENZY!

Over the last couple of weeks, as the weather starts to get colder and the daylight hours shorter (in other words Winter 's on its way!),  I've noticed that the Starlings that have been visiting my garden feeders in ones and twos have now started to band together into ever larger flocks or, in the case of my feeders, raiding parties!

Now, the general idea is that they flock together for safety and warmth while roosting for the night. But being the best of friends and snuggling up cosy and warm during the night may be one thing during the day while searching for food and even taking a bath it's a different matter altogether...it's everyone for his/her self!

A couple of days ago I was fortunate to have the video camera to hand when one of these raiding parties descended onto my garden and feeders.  It was around 3.30 in the afternoon on a dark and gloomy day so not the best of light but it does show how manic and frenzied the life of a Starling is!

Unfortunately, as I was shooting the video through closed patio doors, the sound of the squabbling  and bickering is not very clear but if you turn up the sound on your computer you can just about make it out over the sound of the camera.  Also I've not edited the video, it's real time as it happened, so is quite long!

Before the video here are a few images taken on the same day and again taken through the patio window.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE!!

Yes, it's been a while since my last post! This has been due to a number of reasons, mostly trivial and of no real consequence. Although I've been out and about visiting many  locations some close to home others further afield and in the process have taken lots of photographs, I find that when I start to sort through them I get very disheartened that they are not as good as I would like them to be (I guess I'm not alone in experiencing this feeling!!) and can't really get enthused about showing them off to other people. I also find it difficult to write the words to accompany them that, I think, will be enjoyable and interesting for people to read.

Anyway, now that's got the excuses out of the way here's a few photos from a couple of months ago that I think are worth sharing.

Back in August I had occasion to visit Hatfield House Country Show in Hatfield (unsurprisingly!)  Hertfordshire. I'm not sure that I entirely agree with the hunting, shooting, fishing way of things but it was close to where the mother-in-law lives and it was a good opportunity to let her of the leash for the afternoon to worry a few more people!!

One of the arena displays was a demonstration of falconry and after the show the birds were put on display so that people could get a better view.

So, after all that waffle, here's a few of the many photos that I took.

 American Bald Eagle

African Fish Eagle

European Black Kite

Mountian Cara Cara