Two birds today, both taken early this morning. First up is a particularly feisty wren, which boldly sat out in the open singing with all its might. 
The second bird, the skylark, embodies the sound of spring and summer with its rapid, trilling song. They spend much of the time hovering high overhead with a song on their beak. When the song runs out, they descend in a spiral as their trilling unwinds. Usually they settle in the thick long grass, but this one came to rest on a 'lofty' perch. 
Lunchtime served up a quite unexpected treat. I had literally just walked out of the office when an utterly distinctive sound filled my ears. It was the unmistakeable growl of a Spitfire. It wasn't just passing over either. It was there for a mini display at the local football club in early celebration of St George's Day (which is actually Monday). A brass band was playing the Dambusters theme, and the lone Spitfire climbed, looped, and wing-waggled for about 10 minutes. Yes I got lots of photos.
Camera note: all shots taken with the Canon 7D and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L USM IS lens.
studio41
21 Apr 2012the one looks like a crown atop the Christmas tree!
gdare
22 Apr 2012Battle for Britain!!! :yikes:
derWandersmann
22 Apr 2012Funny how the fast shutter speed stops the prop.
Have you heard about the Spitfires buried by the British troops on Burma as they prepared to leave after the war? Crated them all up and buried them somewhere. I hear they are about to get them back, now that Burma has loosened up a bit, and get them all spiffed up and clean for museums and airshows. This one looks like the original, unmodified design. One of the great fighters of the world.
Loved seeing the skylarks … one seldom does, since they're usually 500' overhead.
Words
23 Apr 2012Darko, there would have been lots of aerial action in this part of the country in 1940. I love the sound of these planes. It is so different to anything modern.
Words
23 Apr 2012dW, it's funny but I'd been talking about the Burma spitfires the night before, and then this one came along. It would be great if they do manage to restore them. There are so few left flying now.
Words
23 Apr 2012Jill, and it would sing like an angel too!
SittingFox
23 Apr 2012It's amazing what one can find outside the office. I was having a meeting with my manager in London on one occasion and got interrupted by a military band marching to music under the window :right: But a Spitfire is quite special.
Love the wren with its beak wide open :sing: and it's nice to see a perched lark too!
gdare
23 Apr 2012Originally posted by Words:
Not to mention a design, just beautiful :up:
derWandersmann
23 Apr 2012Originally posted by Words:
Every now and again, I think of the fact that when my generation is gone (I'm hanging on, but the branch is getting thinner.), there will be no one left alive who has heard the sound of a squadron of bombers flying overhead, in formation. A sound lost to the world, since recordings and films give only a dim echo if it.
Words
23 Apr 2012dW, in many ways that has to be a good thing, but I also understand what you mean by the loss.
Words
23 Apr 2012Adele, the Spitfire was a bit over the top for a so-so football team to celebrate "not-quite St George's Day", but I'm glad they did. I love seeing them.