European Roller with frog. Hungary July 2019.

This Roller was a master at catching what I think are Marsh Frogs. They were a regular prey item alongside black beetles which also seemed to be popular.

These images are from 2 separate pairs of rollers and as you can see their plumages vary considerably.

The photos are a bit "noisy" as the first was taken at 04:17 in the morning when there was very little light and hence a high ISO & a low shutter speed.

Don't think I want to be reincarnated as a frog that's for sure!

Barn Owl near Wadebridge. 23rd July 2019

A few images of the male bird carrying a field vole to the nest which is in an old cattle shed in the corner of some rough meadows.

Ideal Owl habitat.

Barn Owl ringing this evening near Wadebridge. 15th July 2019.

Thinking a female on the left and 2 males.

We revisited the Barn Owl box that we checked exactly a month ago which at the time held 4 very small owlets and 2 unhatched eggs.

Fortunately there were 3 strong, healthy chicks in the box & my friend Pete Roseveare put rings on each of them.

At the last visit there were 16 uneaten voles in the box, now there are none. They are obviously growing fast and eating everything put in front of them!

Always a joy to see and a privilege to get so close to them.

As an aside we both hold Schedule 1 licences for Barn Owls at this site.

A smaller Male

the larger female.

A distant White-tailed Eagle. Tiszaalpar, Hungary. 11th July 2019.

I watched this White-tailed Eagle fly across the marshes and then circle before it crashed down on a fish in the shallows beside the reeds.

It stayed there a few moments before rising out of the water and carrying a fish off towards the far end of the lake.

Too far away for good photos but still a memorable event to watch!

Lesser Grey Shrike, Tiszaalpar, Hungary. 8th July 2019.

Lesser Grey Shrike.

One of my "target" species ticked off today on our Hungarian Photo trip to Tiszaalpar.

Cracking bird that was very active around the copse of trees we were photographing in.

Predators of the Cornish coast. 3rd July 2019

Juvenile Peregrine

A couple of hours on the North Cornish cliffs and saw four of the main predators all in the air within minutes of each other. The Peregrine did give chase to the Kestrel, the Raven was part of a family of 4 juveniles & 2 adults and the Sparrowhawk was a complete surprise!

Kestrel

Raven

Sparrowhawk

 

Sparrowhawk

Juvenile Peregrine

Juvenile Peregrine

Juvenile Peregrine

Peregrine