Fishlake Ospreys

Well its been an exciting time down at Fishlake Meadows with returning Hobbies putting in occasional appearances and at long last an Osprey decided it was a good place to stop en route on its long journey south. I say AN Osprey, but actually there has been more than one over the last 7 weeks. A friend of mine who lives on the estate nearby has seen no less than 3 in the air together, which would certainly seem to confirm my opinion that the current bird is not the original one I photographed a few weeks back, nor possibly the one I glimpsed previously from the car when driving to the local tip (causing some erratic driving).
Anyway, for the record, here is the one from the 17th of this month.

Looking straight at me, which is a bit unnerving.

It was a breezy day and it seemed as challenging for this magnificent bird of prey to stay balanced on its perch as it was for me to keep the camera steady on a momopod

After 30 minutes or so it hawked around over the ponds for a few minutes before circling off in the company of a Buzzard

Exciting though it is to see these birds locally, some of the more regular birds here which some people consider humdrum are far from mundane in my view. This Grey Wagtail kept me company (and kept me entertained) on the canal for quite a while when waiting for the Osprey to turn up. What a beautiful bird it is. Never still, and in the deep and dappled shade of the tree lined barge canal, it gave me all manner of photographic challenges. I know they aren't pin sharp, but I'm still quite pleased with the outcome.

Normal service will be resumed again soon

I have taken some time out from the world around me lately as it inexplicably shrank when my best friend's long life came to its inevitably sad conclusion. Winston was everyone's friend, he loved everyone and in return everyone loved him, but none moreso than us and he leaves a gap which will take a long long time to paper over. I don't think a kinder hearted being ever trod the earth and I know my family all feel priviledged to have shared his comfortable companionship and to have called him "ours".