Coming and Going - June 2020

What a gorgeous day it was for my photo shoot in dad's garden this week. It was just a shame that I didn't have much time to concentrate on photography. This meant choosing a single subject, and the subject I chose was birdlife.

Obviously I had a bit of luck with this shot. I was concentrating on capturing the Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) as it landed, when the Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) unexpectedly entered the frame. The Goldfinch isn't quite sharp, but I was still pleased with the outcome considering I hadn't been expecting it to be there.

Young Starling - June 2020

There seemed to be lots of juvenile Starlings visiting the garden this week, but as individuals, rather than in their customary large noisy groups. They had obviously grown enough to start fending for themselves, and were gaining their independence.

Departing Great Tit - June 2020

I only just managed to grab a shot of this Great Tit (Parus major) as it departed its perch. At first glance I thought it was a Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), as it looked like it had a blue cap rather than a black cap, but I think it was actually suffering from some sort of feather parasite.

Motion Blur - June 2020

I really liked how the wings of this flying Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) looked like they were still in motion as it flew past.

Singing Goldfinch - June 2020

My photo shoot was accompanied by a soundtrack of singing Goldfinches, one of which was spotted singing away at the top of a tree.

Sitting Starling - June 2020

Meanwhile more juvenile Starlings fluttered from tree to tree...

Watchful Parent - June 2020

...while a watchful parent looked on.

Soaring Gull - June 2020

Finally, way up above everyone, a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) soared around on the thermals, gazing down on the world.

So this week I went with Coming and Going as my Image of the Week simply because it was nice to be lucky in catching both flying birds in the same frame...