Chance Encounter. Winter Blackbird.

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

Banded Demoiselle, England.

Banded Demoiselle, England.

Most of the time these male insects sit with their 2 pairs of wings neatly folded, one upon the other.

This changes in a quick flurry if a bright green female happens along, as in this case.

Canon 20D + 70-300mm Sigma Apo.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

The Autumn. 190909. England.

Comma butterfly on blackberries.

Canon 40D + 24-105mm Canon IS lens. Fine jpeg. 1/80 @ f11. Hand held.

How often do we go out looking for this and end up finding that.

This the result of a woodland walk looking for fungi.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Broad Bodied Chaser Dragonfly. England.

Broad Bodied Chaser, Old Moor Wetlands, Barnsley, England.

Canon 20D + Sigma 70-300mm APO macro. [70mm @ 3ft]

Although not possessing a dedicated macro lens, small objects sometimes fall within the remit of my Sigma macro zoom.

Such was the case of this dragonfly which landed [and stayed] on a stem only approx 3ft from the footpath.

I believe the overcast conditions [which I prefer for digital photography] helped the situation as the insects were were less mobile than in full sun.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Arctic Tern and Sand Eel. England.

Canon 20D + 300 2.8. Hand held. Overcast.

The Longnanny ternery in Northumberland, England is unusual for mainland UK because of its beach breeding colony of Arctic and Little Terns.

This bird is returning with a Sand Eel for its partner situated in the nearby dunes.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Atlantic Puffin Gaping, Skomer Island, Wales.

Canon 20D + 100-400mm lens. Overcast.

Unpaired Puffins on Skomer Island have a habit of parading around carrying stones and vegetation to attract a mate.

Gaping also appears somehwat irresistable [If you happen to be a Puffin]

Copyright: Kevin Smith