covert surveillance

male greater spotted woodpecker showing off his undertail coverts

in conversation

passing the time of day, no hurry.

totem poles

more totemic pictures; not much else to photograph just now.

buzzard off

It is turning cold and food is getting scarce so buzzards increasingly turn to road kill to keep themselves going through the winter. Their problem is that they are not the most nimble of birds and are slow to take off and can easily get hit by passing vehicles. A lot of young buzzards die at this time of year either of starvation or road accidents.

Inny views

mist forming in the Inny valley, Kit Hill in the distance, Trecombe lodge (the single white building) on the opposite side of the valley.

unseen view

Our village glimpsed through the few trees left from the great larch cull along the side of the road running into the village. The flash of orange is caused by the morning sun shining on the ends of the larch logs.