The pond I often visit at lunchtimes is set alongside a picturesque church. The current building dates to 1817 though a church has been in the village since the 11th century. These shots were taken through the trees on the far side of the village pond. I'll have to go back with a wide angle lens one day soon.
There were several chaffinches and wagtails hopping between (and on) the weathered gravestones in the churchyard, and it was the wagtails which caught the camera.
I caught a glimpse of a sparrowhawk which I occasionally see there, but the other photographic target was hidden away at the top of one of the waterside trees. 
It was difficult to get much closer, so the rest of these are hefty crops, but a great spotted woodpecker is always worth the effort. This is a male by the way, distinguished by his red neck-scarf (it goes well with his waistcoat 😉 ).
There was one more surprise left in store (or to be exact, in the car park of the village store), an old friend who I haven't seen for a while. 
Her attraction to cars has clearly not diminished.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
cakkleberrylane
30 Mar 2011Wonderful pictures! The in-flight shot is awesome! That's a very colourful woodpecker too.
RobinL
30 Mar 2011Words, very nice shots. The church certainly is a nice backdrop.
gdare
30 Mar 2011Is that your car peacock is standing on? 😆
wellisteffi
30 Mar 2011Great post. :up:
I find old grave stones look interesting.
Have you taken the peacock
or you take foreign passengers never? 😀
SittingFox
31 Mar 2011The return of the penhen! I wonder what the woodpeckers think!
Churchyards are often so rich in wildlife.
Words
31 Mar 2011Robin, it's a very picturesque village, sadly now divided by a 4-lane main road… literally a village split in half. It now also 'boasts' a soccer stadium which opens in the autumn! The church and pond are a big plus though, and that I can walk to it in five minutes from work.
Words
31 Mar 2011Lois, thanks. Pied wagtails are a favourite of mine (such flighty and bold little birds), especially when they take off in line with the focusing point!
Words
31 Mar 2011Darko, not my car. I've never been blessed!
Mickeyjoe-Irl
31 Mar 2011Is that peahen wild or domesticated?
Words
31 Mar 2011Steffi, the churchyard is very pretty (there are actually two, but this is the older one). I wouldn't mind if she perched on my car and maybe one day she will. She has been around the village for several years!
Words
31 Mar 2011Mick, I'm don't think the peahen is truly wild but she seems able to go wherever she wants, usually ending up perching on cars!
Words
31 Mar 2011Adele, it was great to see the peahen again. She seems to have crossed the A27 since I last saw her. I really should explore the churchyards a little more. There's a green woodpecker that sometimes sits at the top of the church.