Up With The Birds

Tamron 150 - 600mm f/5:6.3 

ISO 250   600mm   f/10   1/320 sec

I had pulled into a lay by for a short break on the drive from Amsterdam to Vejle (Denmark) and I hadn't intended to get my camera out at all, but as I got out of the car to put some rubbish into a bin I spotted a Great Spotted Woodpecker low down on the trunk of a tree. I grabbed my camera and approached as quietly as I could but before I could get a shot he had flown away. Disappointed I turned to go back to the car and saw this beautiful male Peregrine swoop past.  I managed to snap a couple of quick shots before he disappeared and although this isn't the sharpest of images I was pleased to get it. If you look closely you will see that this bird has been ringed.

Although I missed the woodpecker on this occasion I did manage to photograph one in Gothenburg a few days later so I will be sharing that one in a few days time.

Falcon

If you have seen previous posts you will know that I like birds of prey and today I decided to share a couple of pictures that I took this summer while on holiday with my youngest son down in the New Forest. For most of the time we were cycling or walking but one day we decided to go to the motor museum at Beaulieu.  Within the grounds of Beaulieu abbey there was a falconer with a variety of birds on display.  

I particularly liked the two falcons a Peregrine Falcon and a Gyr Falcon and I have chosen one picture of each of them for today's blog.  The Peregrine is sat in a position called "mantling" and held the pose long enough to get a couple of good shots.  The Gyr also held a similar pose but  I have chosen more of a close up shot.

These are really splendid birds, when Falconry was at the height of its popularity these birds cost the equivalent of £250,000  which is quite staggering.