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

Male Sparrowhawk on Collared Dove [2] England.

Male Sparrowhawk on Collared Dove [2]

Canon 50D + 300 2.8 + x2 extender @ 40 yards.
600mm.

The hawk appears to have ambushed the Dove on the ground as it is standing on its back and has just commenced plucking its quarry.

Within 10 minutes my back lawn was covered in feathers.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Male Sparrowhawk on Collared Dove. England.

18/07/09 Sparrowhawk hits garden Collared Dove.

Canon 50D + 300 2.8 + 1.4 extender @ 40 Yards.
420mm @ 400ASA.

Passing by my upper house window, saw this scene on my rear lawn.

Balancing precariously on a chair and firing down through an open light, I managed
a decent image which amplifies Daves previous shot.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Fit for Purpose.

Atlantic Puffin, Summer 2009

Canon 40D + 300mm +1.4 extender

An Atlantic Puffin on Englands Farne Islands settles to rest after returning from sea with a perfect catch.

These birds have a stiff orange tongue which helps to secure the catch in and out of the water.

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Atlantic Puffin with Sand Eels

Puffin with Sand eels 2008

Canon 20D + 300mm lens. Hand held. 1/1500sec @ F 3.5

To anyone who has visited the Farne Islands off the Northumbrian coast of England, the breeding season for the resident seabirds is a spectacular affair.

Easy Puffin photography is available as they stroll about and rest on nearby rocks but flying birds can be a completely different story.

*The Sand Eels of 2008 were good but those of June 2009 are large and plentyful, some fish
measuring almost a foot in length.

As a result, many young are very well advanced.

At least one good result nature story*

Copyright: Kevin Smith

Common Whitethroat

This Common Whitethroat, Sylvia communis was singing its heart out on the barbed wire perimeter fence at Finningley airport, (Doncaster Airport).







Canon 1D Mk2, 500 mm lens with 1.4 x extender.