Influenza is kicking our asses for the past couple of days. Hope it's a short cycle virus.

A real treat this year getting up close with Eurasian Hornets nesting on local reserve. A few very attractive dark morph individuals found towards end of their lifecycle. Zipped coat, tightened sleeves to prevent accidents. #Nikon #photography #insects #ukwildlife #invertebrates #wildlife #nature

This year we decided to visit the Black Hairstreaks around 10 days early, which proved useful as they were out and thriving. A 2nd visit at "normal" time and they were finished. #Nikon #photography #insects #ukwildlife #invertebrates #wildlife #nature #butterfly

We managed only limited contact with the Purple Emperors this year, but each was precious. #Nikon #photography #insects #ukwildlife #invertebrates #wildlife #nature #butterfly

We've seen the tiny wader species, Temmincks Stint, previously but this year we managed OK photos. Common Teal are small ducks - looking huge next to the Stint. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

We usually spot a couple of Glossy Ibis per year. This year, following a large influx, we had three together - as did, it seems, everyone else... #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Found a few images on my phone - can't remember why I put them there. You can have a look, if you want to☺ All taken with the Nikons. We love Cattle Egret, even muddy footed ones. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Spot the Redwing. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

#Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Back home, taxed and mot'd for another year. This tiny car has sucked up almost £1900 this year in replacing worn and damaged bits. Everything from cooling system to rear number plate is now done. So I guess we're keeping it @msseri.bsky.social 😊

Sat in garage since 8am while fiat suspension is rebuilt. + New tyre, resulting from damaged suspension, tracking etc.

Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Love our Fiat 500s. It's great fun to drive, cheap tax, OK on gas. Downside - you may as well cut a hole in the roof to slowly pour your bank account into as it's a money pit...

MOT failed miserably - first we've ever had, should be fixed tomorrow, at a cost.

MOT day for the Fiat 500. My least favourite day of the year.

#Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

#Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #murmuration

We've enjoyed our year's birding to date though still somewhat slowed by last year's car wreck. We did even lower numbers last year for the same reason. 176 for year to date 113 Brandon Marsh 50 Draycote Waters 77 Frampton Marsh 122 Slimbridge WWT

#Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Tonight. Not a great #murmuration as predators pounced early on and chased the flock to ground, where they mostly stayed. After dark we spotted 3 #Otters followed by Barn #Owl. Chatted with a Tawny and a Peregrine showed. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Shot number 75,000 for the year to date. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Love Goldcrests - our smallest bird species at 5-7 grams. (A paperclip weighs 1 gram). Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight

Golden Plover, Dunlin, Starling, Lapwing and Curlews. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight

More from today's woodland amble. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today - Neck and more than a little back ache after an hour and a half of looking upwards searching high thickets this morning. Min half dozen Goldcrest togged, amongst others - it's what happens when seeking Firecrests. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today - tricky woodland bird togging. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

The aliens have arrived.. Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Yesterday. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Yesterday - D7100 (L) vs D850. Nice to see Bewicks again. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Starling love. Our murmuration output is not even remotely popular. We love seeing and learning about them. We love making photos/videos of them. So, expect many more such postings, ignore as you wish😊 #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #murmuration

Today. Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today - hunting Firecrest, no photos but amazed at how well the D850 picked out small birds from a dark and complex scenes - including several Goldcrest (UK smallest bird at 5-7g). #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Robins are getting into their winter begging mode. Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Mute Swans are starting to get all territorial again.... #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Stellar (excuse the pun, or don't, as you wish) murmuration season so far. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration #predators

Tonight - not quite the dynamism of last night's murmuration with a "cleaner" sky, and the raptors were less evident in their attack runs... #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration #predators

Tonight - another fine show by the Starlings. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration #predators

The Starling flock is now at a size where estimated numbers are meaningless. It's a big #murmuration - image is unmodified. You count them if you want to😁 #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Looking like a vintage year - though things can change overnight. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Tonight's murmuration was fantastic - there's also been another big uplift in numbers. Hosted on my YouTube channel. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration #predators #video #birdvideo youtu.be/RqIeO-5WlQQ

This morning - my most ardent follower - so intent it kept breaching minimum focal distance. Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Starlings are remarkable creatures - little stars, if you will.... #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Whilst it's the Starlings who provide the spectacle, and noone knows why they murmurate, it's the pursuing predators which drive such contortions as this. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Not all of the Starlings will survive the night. This Sparrowhawk grabbed a victim and killed it on the ice adjacent to the roost site - prompting thousands to relocate. ISO 20,000. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

Tonight - best murmuration of the winter so far and the flock has doubled in size in the last few days to to c40-45k birds. Rapid flock size changes are normal for Starlings Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife #birdsinflight #murmuration

The lovely lady came out eventually. Goodnight all. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today. The Firecrest (a lifer) was so elusive that all I got was a distant smudge - so here's a very dark morph Red Kite which did its best to maintain the day's theme by maintaining both altitude and distance. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today. Elusive Marsh Tit - shooting around the treetops like its bum was on fire. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today. Elusive Siskin stayed high and distant. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife

Today. Elusive Redwing, one of several such. #Nikon #photography #nature #UKbirds #birds #ukwildlife #ukbirding #wildlife