Lapwings

With such a prolonged cold winter, everything is very late this year by several weeks. So, I was surprised to see that this hadn't affected the Lapwings on The Outer Hebrides. Most of them had bred and had numbers of chicks running around. It's amazing how independent these chicks are as they wander well away from their parents, who do a great job of guarding them. Any potential predator is quickly spotted and relentlessly chased away. The iridescent colours on the adults are stunning at this time of year.

My Favourite Images (4)

Part four of the series of some of my favourite images.

Kingfisher
These next two images were taken in my woodland garden where there is a small river. I know that to have Kingfishers in your garden might seem perfect but it is not as ideal as it sounds. They are very occasional as they breed much further upstream, I have spent many days sitting in my hide without any results and I haven't seen or heard any this year at all. I am always listening out for them though and will be straight down to the hide when they return.

Kestrel
I was very fortunate with this lovely male bird. It allowed me to get very close for some nice shots.

Jay
The perfect lighting on this close up was enhanced by the reflection of the water in a bird bath which it was perched on the edge of.

Lapwing
A difficult subject to get good flying shots of due to their flight being very erratic. This is probably my best effort as it was large in the frame giving good detail.

In Flight

Whilst I'm out working on certain subjects, I try never to miss the opportunity to grab some flight shots of any incidental species that might pass by. These images are some I have taken over the last couple of months.

Lapwing

Raven

Grey Heron

Shelduck

Magpie

Cormorant

In Flight

A quick post of some flight shots I have taken over the last month.

Common Buzzard
Black-tailed Godwit

Cormorant

Tufted Duck

Sandwich Tern

Lapwing