On the Wing

As autumn approaches, and the leaves begin to fall from the trees, the smaller birds come to the fore. Flocks of goldfinches are a common sight over the fields, but today it was the wheatears that caught my attention. They were busy feeding on the grass downland. And they were confident (or hungry) enough to tolerate a relatively close approach.
This one has just caught a small spider.

Wheatears on the lookout

There were innumerable magpies about, with several juveniles chattering away.

Back home the pigeons abound, and occasionally show their cute side.

But for all the small birds, the rarest sighting of the day was a moth. To be precise a Tiger Moth, hailing back to 1942. It flew sedately over the garden late this afternoon.

Nature Blog Network
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 40D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.

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This Post Has 14 Comments

  1. gdare

    18 Sep 2010

    Ha, more magpies around 😉

  2. SittingFox

    18 Sep 2010

    Nice wheatear portraits! I've never seen one up here.

  3. Words

    19 Sep 2010

    Erwin, thanks!

  4. Words

    19 Sep 2010

    Adele, thanks. Wheatears are very pretty little things and have a helpful habit of skipping 20 or 30 yards before stopping to feed again. It makes it easy to photograph them if they are disturbed.

  5. Words

    19 Sep 2010

    Darko, magpies are everywhere. I'm sure their numbers are increasing… a lot!

  6. gdare

    19 Sep 2010

    Originally posted by Words:

    magpies are everywhere.

    Except in Iceland. They say that in Wikipedia. Is it because of lack of trees or lack of people? Or they don`t like volcanoes? :sherlock:

  7. Mickeyjoe-Irl

    19 Sep 2010

    I see you're getting better at identifying moths. Though it does have very distinctive markings. 😀

  8. Words

    19 Sep 2010

    Mick, LOL! It also helps that they carry a serial number on them. If only all wildlife did it would be so easy 😀

  9. Words

    19 Sep 2010

    "Except in Iceland." I didn't know that. I suspect lack of trees (and cold weather) may have something to do with it.

  10. Flying Red Fox Blog

    30 Sep 2010

    Very nice photos, good catch with the Tiger Moth! :yes:

  11. Words

    30 Sep 2010

    Mark… easiest 'moth in flight' I've ever photographed! 😀

  12. Ukwildlife

    3 Oct 2010

    Great photos – Im jealous of the wheatears

  13. Words

    4 Oct 2010

    Neil, we get plenty of wheatears around here. Great little birds.

  14. Wulpen

    19 Oct 2012

    Lovely shots

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