Euro Robin on Silver Birch

Euro Robin on Silver Birch stump.

Canon 40D + 300 2.8. 640ASA. Overcast. Monopod.

In the winter grey, old fiery breast just shouts to be taken.....and he was!!

Copyright: Kevin Smith

European Nuthatch

European Nuthatch, England Jan 2010.

Canon 40D + 300 2.8. 640ASA. Overcast. Monopod.

For years my bogey bird, on 17th Jan all this changed as this bird made repeated
forays along a particular branch towards a winter food store.

We are all creatures of habit it would seem.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Crumplehound.

According to his owners, this 13 week old "Crumplehound" named google, is a medical first.

Allegedly, during a bout of youthful exuberance, a collision with a lamp post instantly reduced his 3ft length to a mere 18 inches, thus accounting for the excess folds of skin.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Lammergeier, N E India.

Lammergeier, Nainital highway, NE India. Winter.

At 5500ft along the Nainital highway [N E India], the jungle falls away to be replaced by wide open valleys where pairs of Lammergeier can be seen circling at eye level.

Canon 20D + 100-400mm lens. Hand held.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Chance Encounter

European Blackbird, Yorkshire, England.

With snow all around and Christmas approaching, this male Blackbird stocks up for survival in the sub zero night to come.

Canon 40D + 70- 200mm Canon IS lens. Fill flash. 400ASA. Fine Jpeg

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Cheetahs battle Impala

Cheetahs battle Impala, Samburu, Kenya

The last shot in my camera [film days] captured this life and death struggle which the Impala finally lost.

The Cheetahs were totally spent after a titanic 15 minute defence by the gazelle and lay panting in the afternoon heat.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

The North America and Pelican nebulae

This may appear to be slightly off topic, apologise if you think so but it is the natural world or out of this world. I do have another interest and that's in astrophotography. This is the North America and Pelican nebulae in the constellation of Cygnus the Swan, have another look and you'll see the Ferret looking over the shoulder of the Pelican.

The North America nebula on the left was discovered in 1786, by Sir William Herschel, but it took 100 years before anyone saw the similarity. Well, I can see the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and Florida, I think that's as far as I can go.

This is a large mass of gas and dust some 1,800 light years away.

This image represents 2 hours 25 minutes of exposure.

I was out last night with the telescope, the moon was out though and it was almost full, that really puts a stop to astro imaging. So, Kev came round and young Kate from next door popped over and the three of us had a good look at Jupiter and the four Galilean moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. We then moved onto have a look at Uranus and saw a small greenish coloured disc, then Neptune was visited next, this was an even smaller greenish spot/disc of light.

The scope was pointed at the almost full moon, that was bright, it was like being poked in the eye with a sharp stick, so we just trained the telescope at the moons edge and kept most of it out of view, the craters at the southern end were razor sharp.

The night was one of those see your breath nights, very cold, and Mr. Smith needed a warm drink. So Kate had another look at Jupiter told me it was a gas giant and nipped home.

Smith then proceeded to eat and drink me out of house and home. Cos he's like that. : ))