Jay and Squirrel through kitchen window

We seem to be getting visits from a Jay almost daily at the moment - very exciting.   I would prefer not to be photographing through glass but at least it means the Jay is closer than it would otherwise be if I were to try getting outside to photograph it.   I've included an image of the bird in a shrub as that is where it is more often seen.

Blog Bulbs - Crocuses

Perhaps some of these images are getting nearer what I'm aiming at.......

Recording Garden Plants

For too long I've been meaning to record photographically the plants in our garden during a whole  year - and to do so in a 'slightly different' way.   I know I haven't yet found the style I want to adopt but here are some posts which are work in progress.   I think the style will include differential focus in a significant way - and these are experiments with blossoms.   I also think the bit of the image in focus needs to have a diffuse background and I'm not yet sure how I shall manage this on a range of plants - blossoms, bulbs, perenials, herbaceous plants, climbers.....   And I plan to leave the plants identifiable.

Birds at Bottisham Lock

I haven't often seen a Black-Headed Gull take a fish. I  had to check up what was said in a field guide about its feeding practices!   It's always a pleasure to see Wagtails again, a sonorous Wren and a Kingfisher is often seen on this stretch of The Cam these days.   Sometimes it poses....

Golden Retrievers - Colour

Many of the dogs on show were light in colour and I wondered whether there is a fashion for shade of coat colour or whether, knowing the judge and her preferences in advance, meant only the lighter coloured 'Goldens' were shown.

Golden Retrievers - monochrome

I popped into the Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Club Show, Milton and would have enjoyed spending longer as some of these dogs and their owners made for wonderful exposes.   The age range made for interest as well.

More Squirrels in the Garden

I guess we could also get Black Squirrel babies if this fellow finds a mate.

Squirrels in our Garden

Of all the activity between Squirrels seen in the garden, this pair of Grey Squirrels was the first I'd seen which weren't chasing one another aggressively.    This looks like affectionate behaviour, if that isn't anthropomorphising too much!   I guess we could expect babies in the fulness of time.

Wild Prunus - MCP

I love the delicacy of flowering Wild Prunus particularly as it is transfering from bud to flower.   The blue sky enhanced the attractiveness of the images and reminded me of the way in which Japanese art captures blossoms so beautifully.

Great Crested Grebes - MCP

The light was better than I had anticipated this morning and with an increasing number of birds heralding Spring with bird song, Milton Country Park came to the top of the list.   There were Kingfishers to be heard but only rarely seen, and for the first time I heard Great Crested Grebes calling - not sonorous but who am I to say?   Although the full courtship display of the Grebes wasn't seen, it looks promising that these two will pair up this year.   The light on the water when there was just one Grebe showed off its plummage well.